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Night exercises, drones with infrared sensors, warships, and troops from five countries transformed the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul into the setting for Latin America’s largest combined riverine operation, mobilizing over 700 military personnel in integrated actions on the Paraguay River during five days of multinational training.
The Brazilian Navy coordinated, between April 20 and 25, 2026, Operation “ACRUX XII”, a multinational exercise held in Corumbá (MS), in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, with over 700 military personnel from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Considered by the Navy to be the largest combined riverine operation in Latin America, the activity mobilized naval, air-naval assets, and Marine Corps troops along a 60-kilometer stretch of the Paraguay River, focusing on training, operational integration, and regional cooperation.
Operation on the Paraguay River brought together forces from five countries
For five days, the participating forces carried out riverine patrolling, riverbank clearing, protection of the riverine task force, river traffic control, and close air support in a strategic area of the Pantanal.
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The Brazilian Navy acted as host of the commission and employed the Monitor “Parnaíba”, the Transport Ships “Almirante Leverger” and “Paraguassu”, the Patrol Ships “Pirajá” and “Piratini”, the Riverine Logistic Support Ship “Potengi”, the Riverine Support Tender “Barão de Melgaço”, and the Floating School Agency “Esperança do Pantanal”.
Five naval assets from Argentina, three from Bolivia, two from Uruguay, and two from Paraguay also participated, in a structure aimed at the integrated deployment of forces in a riverine environment.
A UH-12 aircraft was used in reconnaissance and support missions for the Monitor “Parnaíba” and Transport Ship “Paraguassu”, expanding the capacity to monitor actions on the river and its banks.
Drones reinforced night surveillance during military exercises
The 2026 edition included the use of drones in reconnaissance and surveillance activities, especially at night, with cameras equipped with infrared sensors capable of detecting heat radiation.
The deployment of these equipments reinforced observation of the operations area and allowed for monitoring movements in low visibility conditions, a relevant resource in a complex navigation environment like the Pantanal.
On the night of April 24, the military carried out a riverine landing and assault exercise, with eight troop transport vessels, two “Guardian” type patrol boats, one assault boat, and two platoons of Marines.
After navigating for five kilometers, the military personnel disembarked and advanced another five kilometers on land to the assault base, in a simulation of retaking an area controlled by a fictitious enemy.
The scenario reproduced a training base and a traffic control post, with the objective of testing displacement, coordination, security, and command procedures among troops from different countries.
Military integration and defense of the Paraguay-Paraná waterway
According to the Commander of the 6th Naval District, Rear Admiral Emerson Augusto Serafim, the exercise was organized into coordinated actions to allow for the joint deployment of forces and to prepare integrated responses in multinational situations.
“Operation ‘ACRUX’ reinforces interoperability among the participating Navies by enabling the exchange of procedures and mutual understanding of operational capabilities,” stated the officer.
Serafim also highlighted that the Pantanal presents specific characteristics for riverine operations, which contributes to improving training in an environment considered unique by the Navy.
For the Chief of the Combined Staff of the operation, Commander DEM Galeano, of the Paraguayan Navy, the exercise prepares forces to act jointly in the defense of the Paraguay-Paraná waterway.
According to him, the waterway is one of the main economic axes of the countries involved and represents an essential route for the exit of Paraguayan products towards the sea, in addition to supporting regional free trade.
Logistics mobilized foreign ships and troops in the Pantanal
The presence of foreign military personnel and vessels required logistical planning for displacement, docking, operational coordination, and crew integration during activities in Corumbá and Ladário.
Commander J. Rivas, of the Argentine Navy, stated that the participation of the countries contributed to the exchange of experiences and expanded knowledge about the area of operations.
According to him, the Pantanal environment is different from that in which part of the forces are accustomed to operating, which made the exercise relevant for operational adaptation and cooperation between the navies.
Warships received public visitation in Corumbá
Before the main phase of the operation, on April 17, 18, and 19, the Multipurpose Ship A.R.A. “Ciudad de Rosario”, from Argentina, and the Patrol Ship “Pirajá”, from the Brazilian Navy, were open for public visitation in Corumbá.
More than 800 people visited the vessels, toured the facilities, and received information about the capabilities of the ships employed in the Paraguayan River region.
Visitor José Alberto de Amorim reported that the experience had personal value, as he had been a lieutenant in the Brazilian Army and worked with navigation, including trips along the Paraguayan River to Argentina.
Viviane Amorim, José Alberto’s daughter, highlighted the receptiveness of the military personnel and the female presence on board, stating that she showed her 10-year-old daughter that women can also occupy these spaces.
Operation ACRUX will have a new edition in 2028 in Paraguay
Operation “ACRUX” takes place every two years since 2001, with direction exercised on a rotating basis by the navies of the participating countries.
On April 26, 2026, during an event in Ladário (MS), representatives from Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Uruguay signed the ACRUX XII agreement minutes.
The document formalized the activities developed, observations, and results achieved, in addition to establishing recommendations for the next edition, scheduled for 2028, in Paraguay.
The minutes were signed by Rear Admiral Emerson Augusto Serafim, for the Brazilian Navy; Rear Admiral Carlos Martin Barreto Gonzalez, for the Paraguayan Navy; Rear Admiral Damián Gabriel Orgiazzi, for the Argentine Navy; Captain Cadmiel Mounzon Terán, for the Bolivian Navy; and Commander Diego Alberto Fros Boga, for the Uruguayan Navy.
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