On June 8, the twelfth edition of the international exercise “Estrella Austral” concluded with a ceremony held at the Chilean Army’s Special Operations Brigade. It is the largest Special Operations training exercise in the Spanish-speaking world.
Over 14 days, more than 2,700 personnel from Chile, the United States, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay operated across an area spanning 3,700 kilometers, deployed from Tarapacá to Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic. The exercise combined land, naval, and air components: 67 ground vehicles, 42 aircraft, and 4 naval units, accomplishing the 28 planned objectives.
A total of 37 tactical actions were carried out: 20 Direct Action, 15 Special Reconnaissance, and 2 Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations. Simultaneously, 193 air operations were executed—99 with Chilean assets and 94 with U.S. aircraft. Noteworthy were 14 parachute drops, 9 infiltration missions, and 2 medical evacuations.
The training aimed to strengthen interoperability among special forces in joint and combined operations, both in conflict scenarios and in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.
Minister of National Defense Adriana Delpiano emphasized that the exercise simulates a UN-mandated operation: “This allows us to be better prepared to contribute to international missions, and it is also an excellent training opportunity for our Armed Forces.”
Vice Admiral Pablo Niemann, Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of the Exercise, highlighted the fulfillment of all objectives at both tactical and operational levels: “This exercise brings prestige to Chile, showcases the high standard of our Armed Forces, and reinforces our ability to plan and conduct multinational operations of this scale.”
Major General Rodrigo Marchessi, Commander of Special Operations of the Army, praised the growth of the exercise in terms of command and control, logistical deployment, and territorial reach: “Estrella Austral continues to consolidate itself as a regional benchmark in advanced training.”
Directed by Chile’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, with support from the U.S. Special Operations Command South and organized by the Chilean Army’s Special Operations Command, “Estrella Austral 2025” reaffirms the regional projection of Chile’s Armed Forces and their capacity to operate in coordination with international allies.
Photo credits: Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Chile.
Original text written in Spanish by Rodolfo Neira Gachelin
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