Military of Twenty Nations in Brazil for UNITAS LXIII

US Navy, September 11, 2022 - Navy and Marine forces are set to arrive in Rio de Janeiro in support of UNITAS LXIII, the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise scheduled to take place Sept. 8-22.

This year’s exercise is hosted by the Brazilian Navy and will included 20 participating nations, 19 ships, one submarine, 21 aircraft, accounting for approximately 5,500 total military personnel that will conduct operations principally off the coast of Rio de Janerio.

UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 63rd iteration. This year, Brazil will host UNITAS in conjunction and celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of both their nation’s independence and navy’s founding.

“This exercise is an incredible opportunity for all participating nations to come together as professional mariners on the sea, under the sea, in the air and in the littorals, to operate and grow as a team in order to strengthen our partnerships and enhance our collective maritime posture,” said Rear Admiral Jim Aiken, commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. “Congratulations to Brazil on 200 years of independence and excellence in the maritime domain on the sea and on the land.”

In addition to the United States, UNITAS LXIII will bring together 19 nations from across Central and South Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa to train forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability.

Participating nations include Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

“Exercise UNITAS is a highly anticipated premier training opportunity for all the participating nations’ navies and marine corps in the Western Hemisphere,” said Lt. Gen. David Bellon, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South and Marine Forces Reserve. “UNITAS highlights the foundation of our partnerships and our dedication to building and sustaining the social and military relationships necessary to achieve common objectives and regional security.”

The initial in-port phase will include cultural exchanges, sporting events, community relations projects and the opportunity for UNITAS LXIII partners to participate in bicentennial events such as the Bicentennial Naval Parade scheduled for Sept. 7 along the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Following opening ceremonies on Sept. 8, naval forces will conduct combined and joint operations as a multi-national task force, executing an event-driven scenario to train in multiple warfare areas. Ships and sailors will head to sea for maritime operation training and Marines will move inland to conduct amphibious training ranges before coming back together in support of a culminating multinational amphibious landing.

A significant focus of UNITAS LXIII is the cooperation and integration of the multinational navy forces with marine corps and naval infantries. The maritime domain includes the littorals that incorporates the ocean and the area inland from the shore which can be supported and defended directly from the sea.

U.S. forces participating in UNITAS LXIII include

- USS Lassen (DDG 82),
- USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19),
- USS Albany (SSN 753),
- Commander, Amphibious Squadron Eight (COMPHIBRON 8),
- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 (HSC 22),
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 Detachment 2 (HSM 70 Det 2),
- Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16),
- Special Boat Team 22 (SBT 22),
- Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) Det 2,
- Seal Platoon from Seal Team 8,
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Two (EODMU-2),
- Beachmaster Unit Two (BMU-2),
- USCG Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team (PAC AREA TACLET),
- Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40),
- Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8,
- 25th Marine Regiment,
- 3d Battalion 25th Marine Regiment,
- 3d Force Reconnaissance Company,
- 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Company (4th LAR),
- 4th Combat Engineer Battalion (4th CEB),
- 6th Engineer Support Battalion (6th ESB),
- 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO),
- 4th Civil Affairs Group (4th CAG),
- Marine Aircraft Group 49 (MAG-49),
- U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH),

USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the Marine Corps component to U.S. Southern Command, is responsible for planning exercises, operation, and overall Marine Corps support for the SOUTHCOM assigned area of responsibility.

Eighteen navies in Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian Navy - With 5,500 military personnel, 21 aircraft and 21 ships, including a submarine, Operation UNITAS LXIII begins on September 10 in Brazil.

The opening event was held this Thursday (08), in the city of Niterói (RJ), at the headquarters of the Brazilian Squadron, followed by a press conference.

Since 1960, UNITAS has been the oldest multinational maritime exercise organized by the North Americans and, in this edition, Brazil is the coordinator and host country.

The main objectives of the operation are to increase the interoperability of the Navies through the conduct of naval, air and marine operations, in addition to strengthening the ties of cooperation between the participating countries.

Commanded by Rear Admiral Marcelo Menezes Cardoso, Commander of the 1st Division of the Fleet, the Brazilian Task Group (GT) is composed of the following ships:

- Multipurpose ship “Atlântico”;
- Multipurpose Dock Ship “Bahia”;
- Combat Tank Landing Ship “Almirante Sabóia”;
- Frigate “Constitution”;
- Frigate “Liberal”;
- Frigate “Union”;
- General Cargo Landing Vessel “Camboriú”;
- Ocean Patrol Vessel “Amazonas”;
- Patrol Ship “Macaé”;
- Ocean Support Ship “Purus”;
- Minesweepers “Aratu” and “Araçatuba”.
- detachment of Combat Divers,
- a troop of 500 Marines,
- Amphibious assault vehicles (CLAnf)

With upport of the following Brazilian Navy aircraft:
- Super Cougar (UH-15);
- Seahawk (SH-16);
- Super Linx (AH-11 A/B);
- Squirrel (UH-12);
- Skyhawk (AF-1);

and Brazilian Air Force:
- P-3AM Orion and
- P-95 Bandeirante Patrulha

This year, the Operation will have the participation of seventeen foreign navies: Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, Spain, United States, France, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

“In this edition, there will be a specific task unit focused on maritime security. These exercises will be carried out by the Patrol Vessels of the Cameroon Navy, from Namibia, as well as by the British and Brazilian Patrol Vessels”, explained Admiral Cardoso.

Operation UNITAS 2022 will consist of a port and a maritime phase. The sea phase, in turn, will have three stages. The first will be preparation, where exercises will be carried out in surface actions, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft, electronic warfare and maritime interdiction operations; in the second there will be exercises specifically linked to maritime safety; the final phase will be an amphibious stage, which will include a simulation of civilian rescue, through an amphibious incursion on Itaóca Beach (ES), involving the movement of a multinational amphibious element and the use of amphibious assault vehicles and vessels of landing.

“Since 2008, UNITAS has been carried out with an amphibious phase. This inclusion shows the importance that the Brazilian Navy attaches to the preparation of the Forces to carry out humanitarian aid and disaster remediation operations. One of the important contributions of this type of training is what we learned in humanitarian aid to Haiti”, explained Admiral Cardoso.

In the port phase, workshops will be held for the Marine Corps and Special Operations troops, in addition to activities that will allow cultural exchanges, sporting events and relationship projects with the civilian public.

For US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, the two weeks of intense exercises include complex operations on the high seas, testing the capacity for joint international action, which requires coordination in all domains.

“Success in this type of mission requires constant communication, multilateral cooperation and, most importantly, trust. Confidence in the capacity and decisions of our Navies and our Nations”, commented the Secretary.