With the start of the Fraterno Combined Exercise in the Argentine Sea, the navies of Argentina and Brazil have deployed several surface units, aircraft, and submarines for bilateral activities between the two forces. As recently announced, units from the Destroyer and Patrol Division have recently departed from their bases to commence the exercises.
Held since 1978 in successive editions, the Fraterno Combined Exercise involves “combined operations through a binational force navigating under multiple threats in a South Atlantic operational area, fulfilling a hypothetical peace mission under the mandate of the United Nations (UN),” detailed the Argentine Navy through its official channels.
It further added: “The combined exercise aims to deepen relations and knowledge between the participating navies, strengthen institutional and personal ties, and foster friendship and camaraderie among the new generations of sailors.”
To this end, the Argentine Navy has deployed the MEKO 360 ARA Sarandí destroyer. The unit, part of the Destroyer Division, set sail for the meeting point from the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base (BNPB) on August 10. Subsequently, on the following day, the oceanic patrol vessel ARA Almirante Storni, belonging to the Patrol Division, joined the exercises after departing from Mar del Plata.
Regarding Brazil’s participation, it includes one of its Niteroi-class frigates, “Liberal,” along with the submarine Tikuna. The latter was recently seen arriving at the Mar del Plata Naval Base. Additionally, the Brazilian force has deployed one of its Lynx naval helicopters.
In addition to surface and submarine components, the Naval Aviation Command will also participate with several of its units. These include: “two T34-C1 Turbo Mentor aircraft from the Naval Aviation School and a Beechcraft B-200 from the Argentine Navy’s Maritime Patrol Squadron.”
Finally, as reported yesterday with the departure of ARA Almirante Storni, the Fraterno Exercise is currently conducting its Antisubmarine Phase, which will extend until tomorrow, August 15. This phase aims to “… conduct basic antisubmarine exercises for appendage recognition, sonar tracking setup, simulation of search and attack from surface and naval aviation units,” detailed the Argentine Navy.
*Photographs used for illustration purposes.
You may also like: Airbus Helicopters continues to propose the AS365 N3 Dauphin as the Argentine Navy’s shipborne helicopter
