The Joint Special Operations Command of the Argentine Armed Forces is today concluding a multidomain exercise that took place in various locations in Patagonia. It began its preliminary phase on April 20th and involved personnel and resources from the Argentine Army, Argentine Navy, and Argentine Air Force, with the main objective being to enhance coordination and joint operations among the forces.
The exercise covered an area of approximately 162 km2, which includes the zone delineated by Puerto Santa Cruz Airport, Punta Quilla Port, and Piedrabuena. In general terms, the joint activity aimed to occupy an enemy force in the first two locations, requiring the deployment of the Joint Task Force of Multidomain Special Operations in Patagonia to sequentially recover and maintain operational control of these areas until they could be relieved by Rapid Deployment Forces or Main Response Forces, which was scheduled for May 3rd, marking the end of the activity.
To accomplish this task, the exercise was divided into four phases: preliminary, infiltration, execution, and action on the objective. Specifically, the mission involved the airborne infiltration of members of the Special Operations Group (GOE) of the Argentine Air Force (FAA) into an area previously surveyed by an advanced force. This, along with troop landings from the naval component stationed near Punta Quilla Port, initiated a sequence to reclaim the aforementioned strategic objectives. At this stage, Argentine Navy vessels provided covering fire, supported by air attacks and loitering munitions to saturate enemy response capabilities. Once the objectives were secured, troops were tasked with maintaining control and operability until their extraction and subsequent relief.
As previously mentioned, the exercise required the participation of various resources and personnel from the Armed Forces, necessitating a complex network of assets and a large number of personnel. The Argentine Navy deployed the MEKO 140 corvette ARA Robinson and the oceanic patrol vessel ARA Storni, along with a Fennec helicopter deployed from one of the vessels. The Argentine Air Force deployed A-4AR Fightinghawk fighter-bombers and IA-63 Pampa III advanced trainers, as well as Hercules C-130H and DHC-6 Twin Otter transport planes for airborne troop infiltration.
Lastly, the Argentine Army mobilized its Aviation Command with the deployment of Bell UH-1H helicopters and Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, complemented by the use of RBS-70NG anti-aircraft systems and HERO-30 loitering munitions. The latter, recently incorporated, can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and autonomous attacks on enemy positions.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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