Stopping over in Rio de Janeiro as part of the Jeanne d’Arc 2026 mission, the task group composed of the amphibious helicopter carrier Dixmude and the La Fayette frigate Aconit took part in an amphibious exercise with Brazilian forces on the island of Marambaïa.
A large-scale amphibious projection exercise, MARAMBAIA 26 began on board the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Dixmude with the embarkation of two officers of the Brazilian Navy. Fully integrated into the planning phase of the exercise, their expertise enabled the task group to prepare for future interactions.
The Brazilian army mobilized substantial resources for this exercise: two helicopters, a company of marines, a submarine, a tank transport ship (LST), a frigate, as well as CLANFs amphibious landing craft.
The exercise began with a training sequence between the stealth light frigate (FLF) Aconit and the Brazilian submarine SSK Humaitá. The force supply ship (BRF) Jacques Stosskopf joined them in the afternoon to play the role of a unit to be escorted. For a dozen hours, the frigate and the submarine opposed each other during multiple simulated torpedo engagements.
Interactions continued land, with equipment presentations, joint training and firing conducted by the tactical sub-group embarked alongside the Brazilian Army. This is an opportunity for the two armies to perfect their interoperability and to evolve jointly ahead of the MARAMBAIA 26 exercise.
The task group left the port of Rio de Janeiro with several CLANFs and Brazilian forces on board to carry out a force projection operation on the island of Marambaia. At sea, she joined the two Brazilian ships: the frigate Defensora and the LST Saboia.
After a night preparation phase involving the amphibious commando group and the beach reconnaissance team, the ballet of the amphibious flotilla vehicles began to transport troops and vehicles to the coast. Once disembarked in the area identified during the night by the divers of the reconnaissance team, the forces of the French Army and the Brazilian marines advanced inland to carry out joint fire actions and tactical maneuvers.
At the same time, Brazilian and French helicopters carried out flights and conducted touch and go sequences on the force’s ships. Thus, a Brazilian SH-16 made several landings on the Dixmude, while the Dauphin of the 34F conducted similar maneuvers on the Saboia.
MARAMBAÏA 26 was a success from the point of view of operations, but also from the point of view of its organization. Conducted on and under the sea, in the air and on land, MARAMBAIA 26 engaged all the capabilities of the Jeanne d’Arc Group, in close collaboration with a major partner in the Atlantic zone. The exercise confirmed the interoperability and high level of trust between the French and Brazilian forces.
The JEANNE D’ARC 2026 mission is a long-term operational mission that allows France to maintain its presence in several areas of interest in the Atlantic. This mission aims to maintain strategic partnerships and to offer concrete, realistic and quality training to the on-board student officers.