Daisy Nascimento
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - In the next 16 days, around 2.5 thousand personnel from the navies of Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Spain, and Uruguay will exchange experiences and learn what to do in wartime situations. They are participating in the 47th Unitas, an international exercise that has been held since 1959. This year it is under the command of the Brazilian navy.

The exercise will be accompanied by military observers from Chile and Peru. The last time it was hosted by Brazil was in 2002. The naval maneuvers will only begin on the 21st. Until then the participants will be engaged in seminars, planning sessions, and athletic and social events.

The exercises will simulate deep-sea attacks between submarines and ships and antiaircraft and surface operations. The operations will involve 11 ships, two submarines, seven helicopters, and five airplanes. The Brazilian contingent is made up of the frigates, Rademarker, Liberal, and Independência; the corvette, Jaceguai; and the submarine, Tapajó, together with approximately 800 men.

The commander of the multinational task force, Rear Admiral Carlos Augusto de Sousa, explained that the cooperative effort allows the knowledge of each navy to be tested and expanded. He said that, despite budget problems, the Navy has been able to keep up a good level of operations.

"We all know that the Brazilian Armed Forces suffer from limitations, as do the other agencies, but a very big attempt is being made to maintain the naval, naval air, and marine sectors in the best possible operating conditions," he affirmed.

Translation: David Silberstein