As part of the main joint military exercise of 2025, the Armed Forces of Brazil launched the final phase of Operation Atlas, a large-scale maneuver coordinated by the Ministry of Defense that mobilizes more than 10,000 personnel from the Brazilian Navy (MB), the Brazilian Army (EB), and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The operations are taking place in the far north of the country, mainly in the states of Roraima and Pará, with the purpose of enhancing interoperability among the three forces and strengthening the military presence in the Amazon, a region considered strategic for national defense and sovereignty.
During the launch day of this final phase, held at the Boa Vista Air Base (BABV), the Minister of Defense, José Mucio Monteiro Filho, accompanied by the commanders of the three forces and various civil authorities, oversaw the activities marking the culmination of this operational cycle. On that occasion, the minister emphasized that Operation Atlas represents “one of the most significant milestones in the ongoing pursuit of improvement and interoperability of the Armed Forces,” highlighting the scale of an operation that required traveling more than 92,000 kilometers to concentrate human and material resources in a single theater of operations.
On the Eastern Front, based in Belém, the Brazilian Navy deployed the Multipurpose Vessel (NAM) Atlântico (A-140), considered the largest military ship in Latin America, along with the Landing Ship “Almirante Saboia” (G-25). Both units are participating in maneuvers involving the transport of troops, vehicles, and helicopters, as well as conducting patrol operations in the Amazon, supported by Embraer P-95 Bandeirulha maritime patrol aircraft from the FAB. In total, the MB mobilized 2,000 personnel, 100 vehicles, and 8 helicopters, integrating its participation in Operation Atlas with complementary exercises from the Formosa Training, carried out in the country’s central-west region.
In the state of Roraima, in northern Brazil, the Brazilian Army and Air Force conducted joint exercises in jungle environments simulating combat, mobility, and logistical support operations under extreme conditions. The land component included around 500 armored and tactical vehicles, among them the 6×6 Iveco Guarani APCs, Leopard tanks, 6×6 Cascavel vehicles, 4×4 Guaicurus, and artillery systems such as the ASTROS II and M109 self-propelled howitzers. Meanwhile, the air component operated C-105 Amazonas transport aircraft, A-1M and A-29 Super Tucano fighters, H-60L Black Hawk helicopters, and Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions.
The demonstration held at Boa Vista Air Base showcased the main technological and operational capabilities of the participating units. In its dynamic phase, a high-complexity operational scenario was represented, including special forces infiltration, air assault operations, advanced air guidance, and fire support with missiles and heavy artillery. The synchronized execution between land, air, and naval forces demonstrated a high degree of coordination, rapid response, and operational effectiveness in an environment as demanding as the Amazon.
With the participation of more than one hundred military units from across the country, Operation Atlas 2025 is consolidated as a key milestone in the training, integration, and strategic deployment of the Brazilian Armed Forces. In the words of Army General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva, Commander of the Army, the exercise “reinforces the military presence in the Amazon region and directly contributes to the defense of national sovereignty.”
*Image credits: Ministry of Defense, Air Force, and Navy of Brazil.
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Its great to read about Brazil conducting training to defend their country.
Que bom isso vc