UH-15 Super Cougar helicopters from the Brazilian Navy (MB), UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper from the US Marine Corps (USMC) operated side by side during military demonstrations in Rio de Janeiro. The activities are part of the 63rd edition of the UNITAS multinational exercise.
In the video published by MB on Thursday (8), a Helibras UH-15 Super Cougar (Airbus H225M Caracal) transport helicopter lands at a base on Ilha do Governador to disembark troops. At the same time, armored vehicles Piranha IIIC and CLAnf (AAV-7A1), from the Marine Corps (CFN), approach together with more armored vehicles LAV-25 and L-ATV from the USMC.
#UNITAS | Today (8), at the Naval Complex of Ilha do Governador-RJ, an operational demonstration was held with representatives of all participating delegations. The exercise, coordinated by the Brazilian Navy in this edition, aims to increase cooperation between the #MarinhasAmigas. pic.twitter.com/SB3ZCaZ6jp
— Brazilian Navy (@marmilbr) September 8, 2022
In the skies above, a Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter hovers over the group on the ground as cover, completing the "operational demonstration" for US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and other officials.
In another activity, an MB Super Cougar and a USMC UH-1Y Venom dropped paratroopers in the Santa Cruz Air Base area, in the west zone of RJ. An AH-1Z also deployed weapons at the base, in Close Air training.
The US helicopter and armored vehicles came to Brazil aboard the USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), a San-Antonio Class amphibious assault dock ship, similar to MB's G40 Bahia (formerly the French Navy's L9012 Siroco). The US helicopters belong to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Red Dogs.
US helicopters
The AH-1Z Viper is the newest version of the AH-1 Cobra, an attack helicopter that emerged during the Vietnam War based on the UH-1 Huey. Also called the Zulu Cobra, the AH-1Z is operated by the USMC and has already been purchased by Bahrain and the Czech Republic.
The aircraft has a 197 mm M20 rotary cannon and can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-114 Hellfire, AGM-179JAGM and 70 mm Hydra and APKWS rockets.
Like the Cobra, the UH-1Y Venom also has its origins in the famous Huey, being the most modern version of this famous helicopter. It was developed from the UH-1N Twin Huey to become the USMC's newest utility helicopter.
The UH-1Y can carry 10 troops or three tons of cargo. It was also bought by the Czech Republic and can be armed with 7,62 or .50 machine guns and 70mm rockets, like the Viper. The two helicopters were designed under the H-1 Program, to replace the AH-1W Super Cobra and the aforementioned UH-1N.
63rd Operation UNITAS
The demonstration, which saw the first time that modern Brazilian and US helicopters flew together, is part of Operation UNITAS, a naval and amphibious exercise carried out since 1960.
This year's edition officially started on Thursday and has the participation of 18 countries and about 5500 military personnel, 21 aircraft and 21 ships, including a submarine.
According to navy, Brazilian Task Group (GT) is commanded by Rear iral Marcelo Menezes Cardoso, Commander of the 1st Division of the Fleet, and formed by the following ships:
- Atlântico Multipurpose Aircraft;
- Bahia Multipurpose Dock Ship;
- Almirante Sabóia Combat Vehicle Landing Ship;
- Constitution, Liberal and Union frigates;
- General Cargo Unloading Vessel Camboriú;
- Amazon Ocean Patrol Ship;
- Macaé Patrol Ship;
- Purus Ocean Vessel
- Ships-Sweeper Aratu and Araçatuba.
The GT will also have a detachment of Combat Divers, a troop of 500 Marines, Amphibious Caterpillar Cars (CLAnf) and the of the following aircraft: UH-15 Super Cougar, SH-16 Seahawk, AH-11A/B Super Linx, UH-12 Squirrel and the AF-1B/C Skyhawk fighters.
Brazilian Air Force P-3AM Orion and P-95M Bandeirulha planes are also taking part in the operation. Another aircraft featured in the exercise is the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon, a commercial Boeing 737-based maritime patrol jet. The aircraft arrived in Brazil on Wednesday (7), landing in Belém (PA) for refueling.
The 63rd UNITAS will have the participation of seventeen foreign navies: Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, Spain, United States, , Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
