U.S. Air Force Airmen and Air National Guardsmen participated in CRUZEX 2024, the largest Brazilian-led multinational air combat exercise in Latin America, held at Natal Air Force Base in Brazil, Nov. 3-15.
The exercise provided unique opportunities for participants to increase their interoperability, improve collective readiness, and build long-term partnerships.
"CRUZEX allows us to not only train together but also build lasting friendships that will serve our shared interests in the future," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Mike Scott, a pilot with the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard. "We are thrilled to be here and it's very important for us to showcase our ability to operate jointly with countries from all over the world, focusing on interoperability and supporting our allies and friends."
This year's iteration brought together foreign militaries across 16 nations, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, the United States, and Uruguay.
"Having these countries here represents an important step in building a safer and more coordinated airspace," said Brazilian Maj. Gen. Ricardo Guerra Rezende, CRUZEX 2024 director. "Through this collaboration, we can foster a more cooperative and fast defense culture, essential to addressing contemporary threats that demand a joint response."
Approximately 1,500 combined flight-hours were flown in scenarios that challenged pilots to innovate and adapt to adverse situations in a modern air campaign.
For the first time in the history of CRUZEX, a simulated cyber component was introduced, designed to integrate cyber defense with traditional air operations, marking a new frontier in military training.
Based on a "Capture the Flag" format, the exercise simulated a range of cyber challenges while testing participants' ability to defend and exploit systems crucial to aerospace operations.
"Cyber operations can support air-missions by reducing the risks of detection and direct confrontation," said Brazilian Air Force Lt. Col. Tiago Josue Diedrich, Cyber Operations Cell chief. "Thereby enhancing mission efficiency and success in achieving strategic objectives."
The success of CRUZEX 2024 comes at the heels of the United States celebrating its bicentennial diplomatic relations with Brazil. Since 1824 the U.S. and Brazil have shared values, aspirations, and a commitment to democracy that have shaped the partnership and driven prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.
