This helicopter does not carry a badge, but is presumably owned by 1°/11°GAv, which is based here.

This former Spanish AF KC-130H (previous serial TK.10-11) is operated by Gr. 8 and participated in Cruzex 2024.

This helicopter carries a 1°/8°GAv (Falcao) badge on the other side. This is the unit that is based here.

Exercício militar da América Latina Cruzex 2024 em Natal Brasil

As of November 2024, Chile is - besides Venezuela - the only South American country operating F-16's. In the early 2000's, the Fuerza Aérea de Chile ordered an initial 10 Block 50 aircraft under the "Peace Puma" FMS program. The order consisted of six F-16C (serialled 851 to 856) and four F-16D (serialled 857 to 860). "857" shown here on approach to Natal during CRUZEX 2024 was US FY # 02-6036 and was delivered to Chile in September of 2006, after having been used for initial crew training in the US as from around August 2005.

US FY 160186, to Kuwait AF in 1977, becoming "807". As from August 1990, the Free Kuwait AF operated it out of King Abdul Aziz AB (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia) for a few month during the 1st Gulf War. Kuwait sold it to the Brazilian Navy in 1997, together with 19 other A-4KU and three dual seater TA-4KU Skyhawks. Redesignated to AF-1 in Brazil and operated by VF-1. This airframe is one of only five Skyhawks remaining in service with the Marinha as of November 2024, and participated in CRUZEX 2024 togehter with dual seater AF-1 "N-1021". The Skyhawks are based at São Pedro da Aldeia.

Delivered on September 27, 2024, "2859" pictured here is the 7th KC-390 for the Brazilian AF. The initial plan was to operate 28 KC-390's, but budget restraints due to the Covid pandemic forced the Government to reduce the number to 19. Less than 10 years after its maiden flight in February 2015 and first entering service with the Brazilian AF in September 2019, the type has a promising future, with a few former C-130 Hercules operators already opting for the state-of-the-art KC-390 instead of the Super Hercules. Note the two Cobham 912E air refueling pod systems under the outer wings.

One of 11 Dual Seater AMX built for the Brazilian AF, and only one of two later modified to A-1BM standard. Between November 2 and 6, 2003, "5654" pictured here during CRUZEX 2024 was part of an ultra long 8000 km roundtrip mission dubbed "Operation Princess of the Pampas". Undertaken by five AMX's based at Santa Maria, the formation met five F-5E's in Manaus, from where four of each a/c type conducted a bombing run on a clandestine airstrip close to the Columbian border. After the smoke had cleared, the airstrip, regularly used by Columbian FARC rebels and drug traffickers, was no more.

In total, the Brazilian AF received 56 AMX ground attack aircraft as from 1989. They were all manufactured locally and designated the A-1A (single seat version), of which Brazil got 45, while the dual seater became the A-1B (11 units delivered). In the early 2000's, Embraer was tasked with an upgrade program, eventually leading to at least 11 airframes being modified to A-1AM (nine airframes) and A-1BM (two aircraft). The fate of the AMX in Brazil is sealed, the remaining aircraft will be retired by 2025. Note the Litening pod under the fuselage of 5523, operated by the "Poker" squadron.

The Peruvian AF operates 20 Korean Aerospace KT-1P "Torito" for training purposes. The 1st four were built in South Korea, while the rest were assembled in Peru by the SEMAN SAC workshops at the Las Palmas AB (Lima) between 2014 and 2016. Twelve aircraft wear an orange / white high visibility paint scheme, while the remaining eight are kept in the stunning camo livery depicted on 437. A recent online report suggests that by 2025, the Peruvian AF is ready and willing to start using the Torito's for counter-narcotics missions and against drug trafficking aircraft.

Supporting three Paraguay AF EMB-312 Tucano's during CRUZEX 2024 was this 2004 built Casa 212. It's the last of five taken on strength by the small Air Force, with the first four of the version Casa 212-200 already delivered in June and July of 1984 (serialled 2027, 2029, 2031 and 2033). All seem to remain in service at the time of upload and are under the command of the "Grupo de Transporte Aereo" (GTA), and assigned to the "Servicio de Transporte Aéreo Militar" (SETAM).

The Peruvian AF became a Hercules operator in 1972, taking delivery of 6 new built L-100-20 Hercules aircraft till 1981. As from 1993, six 2nd hand ex USAF C-130A's were handed over to Peru. Finally, two KC-130H formerly operated by the Spanish AF joined the Peruvian AF fleet in September 2020, among them "393" seen here (ex TK.10-10, code 31-53). "393" is actually the 2nd Peruvian Hercules to carry that serial (after C-130A, 57-0455, c/n 3162). Arriving here at Natal from a flight from Lima to participate - and to support the five Peruvian AF KT-1P's also taking part - in CRUZEX 2024.