Brazilian Navy demonstrates combat readiness in Operation Lançamento de Armas III - 2024.

According to information published by the Brazilian MoD on July 24, 2024, the Brazilian Navy (MB) conducted Operation "Lançamento de Armas III – 2024 off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
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Brazilian Niterói-class frigate Defensora firing the Aspide missile. (Picture source: Brazilian MoD)

The operation included the use of Aspide Surface-to-Air Missiles against targets simulating Unmanned Surface Vehicles, as well as AF-1 fighters engaging Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The operation involved the frigates Defensora, Constituição, and Liberal. Additionally, two AF-1 Skyhawk fighters from the 1st Interception and Attack Squadron (VF-1) and an AH-11B Super Lynx helicopter from the 1st Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron participated.

The exercise included damage control drills, simulating combat situations to test and improve the crew's readiness to respond to adverse events like fires and flooding on board.

The interception and destruction of UAVs by the fighters aimed to confirm the capability of employing this vector to destroy small, armed aerial targets posing a threat.

The action began with the AF-1 Skyhawk fighters moving from the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Base to the exercise area after detecting the Banshee drone launched from the frigate Constituição and controlled by the Operational Systems Support Center team. The Defensora managed the intercepting aircraft, guiding the AF-1s that used their 20 mm machine guns on the target.

The aerial operations during "Lançamento de Armas III – 2024" contributed to enhancing the qualifications of pilots and the operational capacity of the aircraft, allowing the testing of equipment, onboard systems, and sensors, as well as the reaction capability of the ships.