South African navy joins exercise with South American nations

The South African Navy frigate SAS Isandhlwana set sail for South America on Wednesday to participate in an exercise with the navies of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Spokeswoman Captain Lisa Hendricks said the drill, known as Atlasur, was a biannual event and aimed at strengthening multinational cohesion between participating navies.

Atlasur VI will see offensive operations against air and surface threats as well as exercises to employ surface units against land-based naval air units.

Uruguay will contribute a frigate, an auxiliary vessel, two fast patrol boats and two minesweepers to the exercise while Brazil will offer a frigate with a Lynx helicopter and Argentina a corvette and an Allouette helicopter.

SAS Isandhlwana will also visit Tuacuahano and Valparaiso in Chile and return to South Africa on December 22.

Source: Xinhua