CRUZEX 2024

Nov 19, 2024 | Aviation Article

Author: Ian French
Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea Brasileira
The Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise (CRUZEX) is the largest exercise in South America and attracts participants from all over the continent as well as the USA. The exercise was first held in 2002 and 2024’s edition is the ninth.
The exercise is largely based at Natal Air Base which offers extensive facilities, uncrowded skies and a large geographical area – 200 by 200 nautical miles.

CRUZEX 2024 took place from 3rd November to 15th November and brought together 16 countries, more than 3,000 personnel, more than 100 aircraft and involved over 1,500 flight hours.

CRUZEX 2024 was the largest multinational war training exercise held in Latin America, led by the Brazilian Air Force, with the participation of the Brazilian Army and Navy. Many missions were undertaken, including ground attack, air superiority, escorting, and in-flight refuelling. However, the primary objective was to integrate and enhance the ability to work together of multiple countries with multiple equipment types.

The Brazilian Air Force introduced two new elements into its operations for the 2024 exercise: the cyber and space domains. The former featured simulated exercises that expanded training by integrating cyber and air operations, testing the security of critical systems that support aerospace activities. The latter included realistic simulations of space-related events that directly influenced decision-making and, consequently, the course of a conflict.

Participating in the 2024 Exercise were Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Uruguay, and the United States.

Foreign countries participating with aircraft were as follows:

Argentina with two Pampa III from each of Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza based at Tandil and Escuadrón X of Grupo Aéreo 10 de Caza based at Rio Gallegos and a KC-130H Hercules from I Escuadrón Grupo Aéreo 1 based at El Palomar.
Chile with three F-16C and two F-16D Fighting Falcons of Grupo de Aviación 3 based at Iquique/Diego Aracena and a KC-135E Stratotanker of Grupo de Aviación 10 based at Santiago.
Colombia with a Boeing KC-767 of Escuadrón de Transporte 811/Grupo de Transporte Aéreo 81 based at El Dorado, Bogotà.
Paraguay with three AT-27 Tucano of 3er Escuadron de Caza/Grupo Aerotáctico and a Casa 212-200 of Servicio de Transporte Aéreo Militar/Grupo de Transporte Aereo, both units based at Silvio Pettirossi IAP.
Peru with five KA-1P of Grupo Aéreo N°7 based at Piura and a KC-130H Hercules of Escuadrón de Transporte 842/Grupo Aéreo de Transporte 8 based at Lima-Callao.
United States of America with five F-15C Eagles from 122 Fighter Squadron Louisiana Air National Guard at JRB New Orleans and a Boeing KC-46A from 77 Air Refuelling Squadron from Seymour Johnson AFB.
Being the host nation, Brazil provided a significant number of aircraft to the exercise. As well as the Natal based A-29B Super Tucano and H-36 Caracel, local participants comprised:
– 7 F-39E Grippen from 1 GDA at Anápolis and making their debut in an international exercise;
– 13 F-5EM/FM from 1/14 GAv at Canoas and 1/1 GAvCa and 2/1 GAvCa at Santa Cruz
– 5 A-1AM/BM from 1/10 GavCa and 3/10 GavCa at Santa Maria, making their last appearance before being retired next year;
– 3 KC-390, also making their international exercise debut, from 1GTT at Anápolis and 1/1 GT at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão;
– 2 E-99 and an R-99 of 2/6 GAv from Anápolis;
– A-29A/B from 1/3 GAv at Boa Vista, 2/3 GAv from Porto Velho, 3/3 GAv from Campo Grande;
– 2 C-105 of 1/9 GAv from Manaus-Ponta Pelada and 1/15 GAv from Campo Grande;
– 1 SC-105 of 2/10 GAv from Campo Grande; and
– an AF-1B and an AF-1C of VF-1 from São Pedro da Aldeia.
Aviation Press would like to thank Força Aérea Brasileira for their hospitality and assistance with the visit and this article.

18-46055 KC-46A of 77ARS kicking up a dust storm as it turns around on the runway

82-0010 F-15C coded JZ of 122FS LA ANG

85-0102 F-15C coded JZ of 122FS LA ANG

85-0102 F-15C coded JZ of 122FS LA ANG

393 KC-130H of EdT842

433 KA-1P of GA7

436 KA-1P of GA7

437 KA-1P of GA7

442 KA-1P of GA7

55o0 5504 5523 5526 A-1AM of 10GAv

852 F-16C of GA3

853 F-16C of GA3

853 F-16C of GA3

856 F-16C of GA3

856 F-16C of GA3

857 F-16D of GA3

1051 & 1058 AT-27 of 3EdC Taxi out

1051 AT-27 of 3EdC

1051 AT-27 of EdT3

1052 AT-27 of 3EdC

2035 C212 of SETAM

2800 C-105A of 1/9GAv

2806 C-105A of 1/15GAv

2858 KC-390 of 1GTT & 26902 of Esq506

2858 KC-390 of 1GTT

2858 KC-390 of 1GTT

2859 KC-390 Pilot of 1/1GT

4101 F-39E of 1GDA

4101 F-39E of 1GDA

4102 F-39E of 1GDA

4807 F-5FM & 4820 4834 4841 4864 F-5EM

4807 F-5FM & 4820 F-5EM

4807 F-5FM

4812 F-5FM

4820 F-5EM

4834 F-5EM

4851 F-5EM 1/14GAv

4851 F-5EM Pilot of 1/14GAv

4861 F-5EM

4864 F-5EM

5500 A-1AM of 10GAv being guided back into its shelter

5500 A-1AM of 10GAv

5504 & 5523 A-1AM of 10GAv

5523 A-1AM of 10GAv taxiing out for a mission

5526 A-1AM of 10GAv

5526 A-1AM of 10GAv

5654 A-1BM of 10GAv

5654 A-1BM Pilots of 10GAv

5705 A-29A

5936 A-29B

5959 5927 5921 5705 5936 5926 5950 5910 5921 A-29A & B

5959 A-29B

5959 A-29B being refueled

6550 SC-105 of 2/10GAv

6700 E-99M of 2/6GAv

26902 KC-390 of Esq506

A-1AM of 10GAv

A-702 Pampa III of GA10C

A-709 Pampa III of GA6C

A-709 Pampa III of GA6C

F-16C Pilot of GA3

F-16D Pilots of GA3

FAC1202 KC-767 of EdT811

KA-1P Pilot

N-1004 AF-1B of VF1

N-1004 AF-1B of VF1

N-1004 AF-1B of VF1

N-1021 AF-1C of VF1

TC-70 KC-130H of I Esc GA1

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