Troops from the Navy, Army and Air Force carry out an operational exercise with more than 3,000 soldiers and the participation of troops from ten countries, including China and the United States. Operation Formosa began on the 4th and runs until September 17th in Formosa (GO). It is the first time that Chinese and Americans are on the same side in a military operation in Brazil.
In addition to the 63 North American and 32 Chinese marines, who will participate alongside the Brazilian military in the training, military observers from South Africa, France, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Republic of Congo participate as military observers. One of the objectives of the exercise is the exchange of experience between the military of Brazil and the participating nations.
This year’s edition also marks the first time that women participate in the operation as combatants. The first class of marines graduated 144 soldiers in July and, of this total, 76 are participating in the activity.
Coordinated by the Navy, this year’s activity will simulate an amphibious operation, considered the most complex of military operations and all weapons used during the exercise have real ammunition. Armored vehicles from the Marine Corps (CFN), amphibious cars, fighters and helicopters from the Naval Force are being used in the operation.
The Air Force has the KC-390 freighter, the A-29 Super Tucano fighter and the R-99 reconnaissance aircraft, all manufactured by Embraer. The Army took Guarani, M60 armored vehicles and the Astros anti-aircraft artillery system to the exercise.
The is one of the main training and training exercises of the Brazilian Armed Forces and has taken place annually since 1988 under the coordination of the Naval Force at the Formosa Instruction Field, which belongs to the Army and is the only one in the country that allows an activity of this nature to use live ammunition. .
The objective is to train marines from the Rio de Janeiro garrisons, in addition to promoting integration between the three national defense forces and sharing techniques with soldiers from friendly nations.
