Last update 28-01-2022

The  aircrafts gave a fire-power demonstration with all their armament (cannons, bombs, rockets, napalm) until 1999. After that year only overflights and an armament show inside the "Zeppelin" hangar have been organised due to financial constraints.                                           Overview of Santa Cruz AB on 22-04-04. Note the enormous size of the "Zeppelin" hangar.                                                                Photo: Brazilian AF

                            

                       

"Operaçao Pampa 2005": extensive combined Army, Navy, Air Force exercise in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Paranà between    the 10th    and the 20th October 2005 saw the participation of the locally (Canoas) based 1°/14° GAvCa in addition to    Mirage IIID/E, EMB-326, Embraer A-1/TA-1, KC-130H, KC-137.    Also participating (for the first time to an exercise) were 1 EMB R-99A, R-99B, both from the 2°/6° GAv, for Airborne Early Warning    & Control AEW) duties.    Photo: Brazilian AF

                                                                      

 

 

The Grupo received the two tankers in 1985 but used them exclusively on transportation duties. This was changed in 2004 when, on 15-03-04,  8 F-5E were in flight-refuelled over the sky
 of Florianopolis.




  During the same year (1985) the 2° Esquadrao/2° Grupo de Transporte "Corsario" was activated, supplementing with its 4 Boeing KC-137 the KC-130Hs of the 1°/1°GT and enabling much
  more flexible refuelling conditions.They were equipped with 2 Beechcraft Model 1080 pods, enabling 2 aircrafts to be refuelled contemporarely, had an higher velocity and service ceiling
  in comparisation with the Lockheed KC-130s. The aircrafts were delivered between 1986 and 1987, first contact was with 4 Northrop F-5s on 02-12-86.

  One Boeing KC-137s crashed on 26-05-16; the remaining 3 were 0fficially deactivated on 10-10-13 (to be replaced by Embraer KC-390s) and sold to Israel for spares.

                                                                                

 

                                           

                                                                  

                                                                        Photo:  Wilhan Campos/Brazilian AF

During "Tiger III" an USAF KC-135Rs refueled for the first time a Brazilian F-5Es, using a drogue funnel fitted to the boom as normal USAF airrefueling booms are not compatible with the F-5 probe. The refuelling established that the two Air Forces could deploy together.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Photo: USAF

"Salitre 2004": the 1°/1°GAvCa, based at Iquique (Chile), with 5 F-5Es in the air-to-air and air-to-ground missions participated from 26-09-04 till 10-10-04, together with Chilean AF Dassault Elkans, Dassault Panteras,
Cessna A-37B attack/fighters, transport aircrafts and helicopters; Argentina sent Dassault Mirage IIEA and Daggers, while 6 USAF Gneral Dynamics F-16Cs were also present.
Little is known of the exchange tour of Brazilian pilots with their Chilean colleagues. One pilot of 1° GAv and 1°/14° GAv completed their tour with the Antofagasta based Grupo de Aviacion n°7 at the end of 2007.
CRUZEX
This is the only inter-South American (with additional countries participeting) excercise. Fighters have been mainly based at Natal AB, in-flight refuellers at Recife AB,  plus helicopters. It is based on the experience gained
in various armed conflicts (Kosovo, Gulf War, etc) and NATO procedures and developed into the most important combined South American/European excercise
  
   "Operaçao Cruzeiro do Sul" also referred as "Cruzex I/2002"
   Took place 29-04-02 ti1l 11-05-02 at Canoas AB; 5 Northrop F-5E from the °/1°GAvCa and the locally based Northrop F-5E/F of the 1°/14° GAv  participated to the   excercise together with aircrafts                                  
   from Argentina (6 Mirage 5), France (4 Mirage 2000-5)

                                                 Photo: Guillermo Sentis

"Cruzex III" took place from 21-08-06 till 01-09-06; 6 F-5EM from 1°/14° GAv, based at Campo Grande for air defence and 5 F-5EM, based at Anapolis for air-defence/strike, in addition
 to several Brazilian strike-fighters. AEW, transport and rescue aircrafts and helicopters.
 Also present were
 Argentinian 2 McDonnel/Douglas A-4AR, 2 FMA IA.58 Pucarà; France with 8 Dassault Mirage2000C/N, 1 Boeing E-3F;  Venezuela with 3 General Dynamics F-16A, 3 Dassault Mirage 50,
 2 Canadair CF-5A, 1 Boeing KC-707;  Chile with 6 Cessna A-37B; Uruguay with 3 Cessna A-37C, 3 FMA IA.58 Pucarà.
This excercise was of particular importance due to the participation of F-5EM, the advanced French Mirage 2000 as well as  Early Warning aircrafts two Embraer R-99A and one French
Boeing E-3F. The combination of the AEW aircrafts and of Derby air-to-air missiles resulted in at least one
victorious Brazilian duel against the French combination, "shooting down" (according to unofficial infomation) two Mirage 2000C and 1 Mirage 2000N.




"Cruzex IV" took place at Natal AB between the 1st and 14th November 2008, with the participation of 6 Embraer/Northrop F-5EM of the 1° GAvCa and 1°/14 GAvCa based at Natal AB,
GAMD Mirage 2000(Brazil), GD F-16 (USA, Chile, Venezuela), Embreaer A-29 (Brazil, Ecuador),  IA-58 Uruguay and Cessna A-37 (Colombia, Uruguay)

   "Cruzex VI" 16 Embraer/Northrop F-5EM and 1 Embraer/Northrop F-5FM belonging to the 1° GAvCa, the 1°/14 GAvCaça and the 1°/4 GAvCaça were present at Natal AB
   between 04-11-13 and  15-11-13. They mixed with Brazilian Mirage 2000 and Embraer AMX/A-1, RA-1, F-16s belonging to Chile, the USAF (AIM-120 armed), Venezuela;
   Cessna A-37 from Colombia, Uruguay, Embraer A-29 from Ecuador. Focus was on co-operation between aircrafts of different countries. Two Embraer E-99 (Emb-145) provided detection
   of participating aircrafts at low altitude.
   On November 2nd two Embraer/Northrop F-5EM and 2 GAMD Mirage 2000 were for the first time in-flight refuelled by a Colombian Boeing KC-767; 4 Colombian A-37s were in return
   in-flight refuelled by an Brazilan Lockheed KC-130 the same day.
   The exercise was not conventional as it took place against insurgent/paramilita forces and not for the conflict between two countries.

"Cruzex VII" 2013 (same badge as Cruzex VI)
Brazil participated to the 2013 edition with 17 Embraer/Northrop F-5, held during 12 days in the Northern Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Permambuco flying from Natal AB and Recife AB.
It lasted from 05-11-13 till 15-11-2013.
   
Other fighters from following countries participating: Chile (F-16s), Colombia (A-37), Ecuador (S. Tucano), USA (F-16s), Venezuela (F-16s) and Uruguay (A-37, Pucara).

                                                                                   Photo:  Brazilian AF

  

                                                                           Sgt Johnson/Brazilian AF
                                                                             Embraer/Northrop F-5EM in company of an USAF F-16 and an Uruguayan A-37C

                                                                       Photo: Brazilian AF

                                                                    

Northern Air Defence
Retirement of the Anapolis AB based Mirage IIIE on 31-12-05 gave, from 31-12-05, alternatively to the 1° GAv and 1°/14° GAv the task to defend, with 2 F-5E, the Northern part of the country until the arrival of
Mirage 2000s bought in France. The first 2 Tigers (serials 4820, 4827 from 1°GAv) arrived at Natal AB on 14-12-05 during the Mirage retirement ceremony. The new Mirages arrived at Anapolis AB on 27-09-07,
releasing shortly after the F-5s from their Northern Air Defence duties.

Withdrawal of the Mirage 2000 at the end of 2013 saw again Embraer/Northrop F-5EM taking over air defence over the area around Brasilia, at least until a Saab J-39 will be available.

During the 2016 Olympic Games Embraer/Northrop F-5EM, armed with Rafael Python 4 air-to-air missiles were transferred between 04 and August 21 from Natal AB to Manaus AB order to insure locally the air defence.

OPERATIONS
Agata
These operations, in collaboration with the Army and fluvial Navy, concentrate against illegal trafficking of drugs, arms and merchandise along Brazilian borders; the Tigers are used as air cover for the attacking aircrafts.

Agata 1 operation in August 2011 was along the border with Colombia with  the participation of four Embraer/Northrop F-5EM in combination with 5 Super Tucanos on 10-08-11 of the 1°/4° GAV, 2 Embraer R-99,
2 UH-60 and one Cessna C-98.

                                    

Agata 2 was the second operation, starting on 16-09-11, this time along the border with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, in September 2011 with the participation of Embraer/Northrop F-5EM, Super Tucano and
Sikorsky UH-60 and transport aircrafts/helicopters.

Agata 3, a large scale operation along the 7'000 km border with Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay starting 22-11-11. Embraer/Northrop F-5EM, Embraer A-1 and Super Tucanos participating to the operation were based at
Tabatinga, Campo Grande, Cuiaba, Vilhena and Porto Velho.

  Photo: Brazilian AF/Sgt Batista

Agata 4 began on 02-05-11. The Northern border with Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam and  French Guyana was controlled with Embraer/Northrop F-5EM fighters, ground attack, early warning, reconnais-    sance and transport aircrafts.   The map of the country shows the borders (light green painted) involved in the operation.   Agata 5 lasted 30 days, starting from 06-08-12, along the borders with Bolivia, Paraguay,  Argentina and Uruguay; it included air-refuelling of Embraer/Northrop  F-5EM from Lockheed KC-130 in   order to extend they patrolling time. The air crafts were based at Campo Grande  AB, Canoas AB and Santa Maria AB.   The map of the country shows the borders (yellow painted) involved in the operation.  Agata 6 took off on 09-10-12 in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rondonia  and Acre bordering Bolivia and Peru; it involved 4 Embraer/Northrop F-EM, 6 Embraer  A-29 and 10 helicopters. The map of the country shows the borders (light green painted) involved in the operation.   Agata 7 began on 28-05-13 and ended on 05-06-13 with  operations along all bordering states, French Guyana, Guyana,  Surinam, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru Paraguay,   Argentina and Uruguay (16'886 km); an enormous enterprise.  Embraer/Northrop F-5EM participated from Canoas AB.         Photo: Brazilian AF/cb V.Santos      Early morning take-off for Agata 7 exercise from Canoas AB 28-05-2013                                                                                   Operations Agata 8 up to Agata 11 took place in 2014 and 2017; no Embraer/Northrop F-5 are known to have partecipated.

Air-to-Air refueling
Air-to-air refulling for such a vast country and the limited range of its fighter/fighter-bombers was vital; beginning 1990s 2 Lockheed KC-130Ms were bought. They are in service with the Ala 11.

Air Force present:    Lockheed KC-130/ Embraer/Northrop F-5EM                                                      Air Force future:   KC-390/ Embraer/Northrop F-5EM

                          
Three Embraer/Northrop F-5EM of the 1° Grupo Defensa Aerea and 1°/4° Grupo Aviaçao                   First in-flight refuelling trials from the new Embraer KC-390 took place on 04-05-16, Tiger
participated to an in-flight refuelling training between the 15 and 21 october 2017 taking off               serials 4854 and 4828, followed by a "wet" successful sortie (involving Embraer/Northrop F-5EMs)
from Anapolis AB. Fuel delivery was by an Lockheed KC-130 of Wing 2.                                           

on 19-02-17.

Inter-arms:
On 18-10-2016 till 26-19-16 an air-to-air refuelling excercise between 3 Embraer/Northrop F-5EM of 1° GrCaça and the Navy' s Grupo Aereo de Defensa  Esquadrao VF-1 (one two-seater and one single-
seater Douglas A-4). The Embraer/Northrop F-5Es took-off from Anapolis AB.

        

                                                                                Photo: Brazilian AF