Starting today (23), the waters of All Saints Bay will receive service members and ships from the Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese) for Exercise MINEX-23, which will include the actual laying of sea mines without explosive charges. Participating in the exercise will be the Sweeper Ships “Atalaia” and “Araçatuba”, the Corvette “Caboclo” and the Beacon Warning “Aldebaran”, based in Salvador; the Ocean Patrol Vessel (NPaOc) “Apa”, coming from Rio de Janeiro; vessels of the Captaincy of the Ports of Bahia; and, for the first time, Unmanned Marine Systems.
The actions are aimed at preparing naval units subordinate to the 2nd Naval District Command (Com2oDN), with regard to mine operations and mine countermeasures. This year, six SH-60E-type anchorage and contact mines will be laid by the Corvette “Caboclo”, which will be “swept” by the sweeper ships in a double-mechanical sweeping mine countermeasures exercise.
“The ability to ‘sweep’ the mines is exclusive to the sweeper ships, which have devices capable of towing long steel cables with their own scissors and cutting the mooring cables of the mines, taking them to the surface for later deactivation by divers specialized in Explosive Device Deactivation,” explains the Commander of the Mine and Sweeping Force, Commander Ricardo do Nascimento Leira.
In the planned mine countermeasures operations, unmanned systems will also be used in a pioneering way in the search, classification and identification phases. This equipment allows the removal of man from the danger area imposed by the mines, making operations safer and more efficient.
At MINEX-23, NPaOc “Apa” will support the exercise as a “Mother Ship” and a base of operations and control for the Unmanned Surface Vehicle – Laboratory, developed by MB’s Naval Systems Analysis Center (CASNAV). The Unmanned Surface Vehicle “SUPPRESSOR X” will also participate, developed by the company Tidewise, which has a partnership with the Naval Project Management Company (EMGEPRON), a public company linked to the Ministry of Defense, through the Navy Command.
“We are working on the development of an unmanned surface vehicle, which is a new technology, but which is already in use in several countries around the world. And obtaining this type of technological knowledge within the Navy is very important for the country in the military area, but also in technological development. Using the system for military activity is quite beneficial, due to the costs and reduction of operational risks”, explains the Director of CASNAV, Sea and War Captain Fabio Kenji Arakaki, who is on board the NPaOc “Apa”.
Last week, the military involved in the exercise, which will take place until October 28th, participated in several planning meetings so that MINEX-23 can be conducted safely and with the expected success for the development of this new technology, as stated by the Commander of the 2nd Naval District, Vice Admiral Antonio Carlos Cambra. “MINEX will be used to carry out exploratory tasks, in order to improve unmanned systems and bring parameters for doctrinal development. Unmanned Maritime Systems are a further step in the development of the defense industry, as we acquire autonomous and remote control technology, a situation that we have seen in some conflicts around the world. Additionally, we will make a big leap in the training and qualification of our staff.”
Mining and Mining Countermeasures Headquartered in Salvador (BA), Com2oDN is the leading Military Technical Guiding Organization in the area of knowledge of Mining and Mining Countermeasures in MB. The Mining and Sweeping Force Command, subordinate to Com2oDN, is the operational component of the MB, responsible for Mining Countermeasures operations, aimed at keeping maritime traffic lines along our coastline, maritime areas, free of the threat of mines. adjacent to ports, terminals and platforms, as well as possible areas of operations for Naval Forces. The Sweeper Ships “Aratu”, “Atalaia” and “Araçatuba”, based at the Aratu Military-Naval Complex, are subordinate to this Command.
Com2oDN also has the Mine Warfare Assessment and Training Group, created on February 8, 2006, whose mission is to produce mine warfare operational information, in order to contribute to the development, consolidation, dissemination and updating of doctrine. , tactical procedures and use of mine warfare equipment.
“The exercise is extremely complex, using as many activities as possible, which requires a high level of coordination and very well-established control and communication measures to evolve in mine warfare”, adds Sea and War Captain Marcos Paulo Beal, in charge of the Mine Warfare Assessment and Training Group.