Exercise CRUZEX 2024

The Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aérea Brasileira - FAB) held Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise (CRUZEX) 2024, from November 3 to 15, at the Natal Air Base (BANT), located in the municipality of Parnamirim of the Rio Grande do Norte state. CRUZEX is considered the largest multinational war training exercise in Latin America. It usually takes place every five years and this latest edition, the ninth, saw the participation of sixteen countries, some of them present with their own assets and others as observers, 3,000 soldiers and around one hundred aircraft. Led by Major General Ricardo Guerra Rezende, Commander of BANT, CRUZEX aims to update tactics, techniques and procedures in composite air operations, preparing the armed forces for conventional warfare scenarios and complex challenges. With a strong focus on cyber defense, air defense and satellite control, CRUZEX 2024 is set to be a milestone in the preparation and integration of the Brazilian Armed Forces with those of allied countries, improving operational capabilities and cooperation.

The FAB deployed for the first time the new Embraer KC-390 Millennium and SAAB F-39 (FAB designation) Gripen. However, the remaining of the Brazilian Air Force aircraft fleet was not missing. It included the F-5EM and A-1AM (M stands for modernization by Embraer), A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft, C-105 and SC-105 Amazonas, transport and search and rescue aircraft (Brazilian designations of CASA 295), R-99 and E-99M electronic reconnaissance and early warning aircraft, and finally H-36 Caracal helicopters. The Brazilian Navy contributed with the A-4 Skyhawk fighter, in single and two-seater versions (AF-1B and AF-1C, according to the Brazilian Naval Aviation designation).

The United States sent six F-15Cs Eagle from the 159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans. Among the jet aircraft, the Chilean Air Force deployed F-16C/D-50Ms fighter from Grupo de Aviación N°3 and the Argentine Air Force deployed indigenously-produced IA-63s Pampa III light attack aircraft. Also in the latter category of aircraft, but by propeller propulsion, there were AT-27s Tucano from the Paraguayan Air Force and Peruvian KA-1Ps from Grupo Aéreo N°7 based in Piura, in the northwestern Perù. The support and air refueling aerial component was quite diversified. In addition to a KC-46A Pegasus from the 305th AMW from Seymour Johnson, North Carolina, there were a Chilean KC-135E from Grupo de Aviación N°10 based in Santiago, a Colombian KC-767-200 ER MMTT from Escuadrón de Transporte 811 based in Bogota, a Peruvian KC-130H from Escuadrón de Transporte 842 based at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima-Callao and an Argentine KC-130H from the 1° Escuadrón based in El Palomar. Also present and fully involved in th exercise were a Paraguayan Casa C.212 from the Servicio de Transporte Aéreo Militar based at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion and, for the first time, a Portuguese KC-390 from Escuadra 506, based in Beja.

Embraer KC-390 Millennium

SAAB F-39 (FAB designation) Gripen

F-5EM

AF-1C N

A-29B Super Tucano

C-105A

F-16C-50

F-15C Eagle 159th FW

This edition was marked by the introduction of CRUZEX CYBER, a cyber simulation designed to improve the security in critical systems that support aerospace operations. Led by the Brazilian Air Force Cyber Defense Center (CDCAER) and supported by the Brasília Air Force Computing Center (CCA-BR), CRUZEX CYBER uses the Capture The Flag (CTF) format to test and improve the cyber capabilities of the participating forces. CTF brings together teams of specialists to manage digital threats that simlulate modern conflict situations, such as network intrusions and sensitive data leaks. According to Lieutenant Colonel Tiago Josue Diedrich, head of the Cyber Operations Cell, “…. These simulations, conducted in a controlled cyber environment, allow participants to identify vulnerabilities and respond of attacks in real time….”. Captain Oswaldo Segundo da Costa Neto, a CDCAER participant, says “…. it is an international cooperation experience that improves cybersecurity and strengthens the ability to provide a joint response to threats….”
Prior to the start of the exercise, a specialized training has been conducted with Tower (TWR), Approach (APP) and Military Operations Control (COPM) personnel to familiarize them in the simulated scenarios and rapid response tactics adapted to the highly complex situations generated. The latter (COPM) also play a key role in monitoring the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat scenarios and are always present at the daily briefings and de-briefings, helping to review tactics and strategies to contribute to the continuous learning of the teams involved.


The exercise is composed of three phases: the first, called FAM (Familiarization), includes flights that help the crews to adapt in the operational environment of the Natal region, the second, FIT (Forces Integration Training), promotes integration between the various participating air forces. The final phase, mainly carried out in the second week of exercise, includes flights of multi-national formations including multiple type of aircraft, operating in pre-planned complex scenarios (Composite Air Operations - COMAO).


FAM
Allows crews to become familiar with local frequencies, air traffic and geographical features of the operational area. This step is designed not only to align operations with the real environment of the Natal region, but also to improve the ability of each participant to respond quickly and safely to unforeseen situations in the region of operation.


FIT
Introduces missions focused on specific tactics and procedures. Participating nations conduct integrated operations with a limited number of aircraft, simulating situations that require precision in military tactics and combat techniques. This training is essential for participating units to develop and train in interaction and cooperation techniques that become crucial in more complex missions.


COMAO
It is the highlight of CRUZEX, where Brazilian and foreign forces coordinate air combat actions in a high-pressure and high-risk environment. Composite air operations are planned to be carried out in a short time and require participants to have a high level of organization and ability to operate effectively in a conflict scenario. Squadrons and aircraft from the participating forces alternate between the roles of "blue forces" and "red forces" in each mission, creating a series of tactical simulations to make the missions increasingly challenging. Major General Ricardo Guerra Rezende, highlights one of the key aspects: "the exercise does not aim to highlight the advantages of one force over another, nor between aircraft, nor does it designate winners or losers. It provides joint training in which each country contributes its knowledge and capabilities to the collective evolution of the forces involved". In the second week, some capabilities of the aircraft involved are also reduced, balancing them among the participants and challenging the pilots in their planning and decision-making skills to develop creative and useful solutions to successfully complete the assigned mission.


In COMAU, the Embraer E-99M and R-99 aircraft become essential. Both were developed from the ERJ-145 regional twin-jet airframe. The first is equipped with the modern ERIEYE airborne radar from SAAB Electronic Defence Systems, capable of detecting, tracking and identifying targets in its coverage area and transmitting information via Data Link, while conducting airspace surveillance missions, interception control and management, and intelligence activities. The last of five aircraft was delivered at the end of 2023, already in the Full Operational Capability (FOC) configuration certified by the FAB.
In turn, the R-99 aircraft acts as an airborne communication station (Airborne Communication Station - PCOM-AR) between aircraft flying in the combat area and ground control units. The E-99M and R-99 aircraft are in service with the 2°/6° GAv (Segundo Esquadrão do Sexto Grupo de Aviaição) based in Anàpolis. As specified by the commander of the 2°/6° GAv “Guardian Squadron”, Lieutenant Colonel David Dantas da Silva “the E-99 and R-99 aircraft provide advanced monitoring and reconnaissance, offering real-time data for coordination and operational safety".


The “first time” of the F-39 Gripen and the KC-390 Millenium.


The F-39 fighter is equipped with self-defense systems essential to detect and counter threats, including the Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) and the Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), with which during the exercise they tested their response capacity, in a wide range of advanced tactical missions, both offensive (Offensive Counter Air, OCA) and defensive (Defensive Counter Air, DCA). Another critical aspect was also measured, namely the combat survivability rate, using a Mission Planning Assistance II (PMA II) that simulates the impact of threats in the scenario and provides a detailed analysis of each aircraft’s performance. “CRUZEX 2024 promises to be an in-depth test of the F-39 Gripen, reinforcing its strategic role in national defense and providing a clearer view of its adaptability and resilience in modern combat environments,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Lincoln Santos Forneas, Commander of the First Air Defense Group (1° GDA).


The KC-390 Millenium cargo aircraft performed a wide variety of missions, including aerial refueling, airdrop, transport, as well as infiltration and exfiltration of troops. For Lieutenant Colonel Umile Coelho Rende, Commander of the First Transport Group (1°/1° GT), “the role of the KC-390 in CRUZEX was crucial”. Although the aircraft has already been used in various real-life scenarios, including firefighting, delivering supplies to the Yanomami community, and transporting essential equipment to support the Brazilian Navy in Antarctica, the exercise helped establish the tactical and operational training to be implemented in a simulated conflict scenario. "It is very important to consolidate what we have been training in recent years: airdrops, low-altitude tactical navigation, and aerial refueling. Putting it into practice is essential. The onboard technological platforms, together with self-protection systems, increase the crew's situational awareness and decision-making in complex situations".


The Space Operations Cell (SPACE) also played a key strategic role in CRUZEX 2024. Organized into two sub-cells, Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Earth Observation (EO), it conducted simulations of space events (launch of anti-satellite weapons) and monitoring (acquisition of radar and optical images).
Through constant surveillance of the space environment, SDA is able to identify events that may represent threats to the available space assets and proposes countermeasures to mitigate or eliminate them. “Space weather” conditions can affect satellite communications and compromise the accuracy of GPS-guided weapons, with a direct impact on offensive and defensive air operations.


EO focuses on the use of satellites to obtain high-precision images, whether synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or optical. In CRUZEX 2024 there was a strong integration between participating countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and the United States), which actively collaborated in the acquisition of real images of the exercise targets. Such international cooperation was essential for data sharing and allowed the strengthening of space observation and intelligence capabilities between the nations involved.


Chief Engineer Igor Machado Alves, responsible for the SPACE Cell, highlighted the importance of the activities carried out to generate an effective response to threats. CRUZEX 2024 demonstrated the achievement of two main objectives in the space sector: interoperability and cooperation. He stated: "….. this aims to ensure a coordinated and effective response to threats that may impact critical assets. In the air environment, we observe the direct impact of space technologies on operations, especially in terms of communication, navigation and surveillance. All essential factors for the safety of operations and the success of missions …".


Finally, the importance of the presence of observers should not be underestimated. They came from eight countries, South Africa, Germany, Canada, Ecuador, France, Italy, Sweden and Uruguay, and were able to follow all the operational planning and the execution in the various phases of the different domains, all essential aspects for evaluating the validity and specificity of this exercise, also with a view to future participation with their own assets.


Renzo Del Bianco


Fonti: PRESS OFFICE – Brazilian Air Force Public Affairs Office; EMBRAER; SCRAMBLE – NL.