- South America air forces maneuvers
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The South America air forces performs several joint aerial combat training exercises. Among the more important are Cruzex ( Portuguese: Exercício Cruzeiro do Sul ) which is hosted by the Brazilian Air Force, Salitre ( English: Saltpeter ) hosted by the Chilean Air Force and Ceibo ( English: Erythrina crista-galli flower ) hosted by the Argentine Air Force. The goal is to train together in order to respond to a crisis or integrate into United Nations peacekeeping operations as a unified team.
The exercises include combat search and rescue, aerial refueling and combined air operations center training opportunities focused on interoperability [1].
List of operations
All helicopters are normally provided by the host nation and all the participants include different types of support aircraft.
Operation Date Air bases Participants Observers Notes Ref Cruzex I 1999 Cruzex II Salitre I 2004 26sep/10oct Cerro Moreno
IquiqueElkan,F-5
MIII,MV
F-5
F-16
[2][3] Ceibo 2005 2005 Nov El Plumerillo
Villa ReynoldsMIII,MV,A-4AR
AMX
Elkan
A-37
[4] Cruzex III 2006 Aug/Sep Anapolis
Campo Grande
Uberlandia
Brasilia
JataiMIII, F-5, AMX
A-4AR, IA-58
M2000, E-3
A-37
F-16, M50, F-5
A-37
103 aircraft and helicopters. Peru withdrew due to a crash of an A-37 Dragonfly at Porto Velho on the way to Anapolis which killed both pilots. [5] Cruzex IV 2008 Nov Natal F-5,AMX
F-5
F-16
A-37,Pucara
M2000C/D
Argentina withdrew at last minute due to the Congress not authorizing the Air Force's aircraft to leave the country in time. [6][7][8] Salitre II 2009 19/30oct Cerro Moreno/Iquique F-16,F-5,
AMX
A-4AR
F-15C
M2000C
The exercise was criticized by Peru [1][9] Cooperacion 2010 Chile Natural disasters relief training official video [10] Cruzex V 2010 28oct/19nov Natal F-5M,M2000,AMX
F-16C/D
Pucara,A-37
Rafale,M2000-5
F-16C
[11] See also
- Gringo-Gaucho
References
- ^ a b AFSOUTH Airmen participate in Exercise SALITRE II
- ^ Ejercicio Salitre 2004 (Spanish)
- ^ Opt. Salitre 2004
- ^ saorbats.com.ar CEIBO 2005
- ^ CRUZEX III: The biggest aerial operation in Latin America!
- ^ FAB In CRUZEX IV Coallition Force's backstage
- ^ FAB CRUZEX IV (Portuguese)
- ^ Cruzex 2008 pictorial
- ^ Empezó el ejercicio militar chileno 'Operación Salitre II' pese a críticas (Spanish)
- ^ Cooperacion I at fach site
- ^ Cruzex V official site
Categories:- Military aviation exercises
- Argentine Air Force
- Brazilian Air Force
- Chilean Air Force
- French Air Force
- Peruvian Air Force
- Military of Uruguay
- Military of Venezuela
- Military exercises involving the United States
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