Namibia was among the twenty-one countries that participated in the 63rd UNITAS exercise, which ended this week.

The Namibian ship Elephant was assigned to represent the country's navy during the naval parade and also in an operation where UNITAS marked Brazil's bi-centennial independence anniversary.
 
UNITAS is a long-standing naval operation between the USA and the Caribbean, Central and South American countries, conducted in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Countries that participated in this exercise had the opportunity to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious, and electronic warfare operations.

Brazil is one of the countries that laid a solid foundation for the Namibian Navy, dating back to twenty-eight years ago. 

NS Elephant docked off the Namibian port on the 24th of last month with 116 crew members, including sailors, marine corps, medics, and detachment members from the Army, Air Force, and Defence Head Quarters.

The team successfully sailed a distance of 3133, 39 nautical miles, over a period of nine days, from Walvis Bay to Rio de Janeiro.
 
As a naval tradition, the Namibian Navy also conducted a 21-gun salute as NS Elephant entered the port of Rio de Janeiro for the first time. Brazil reciprocated by firing off a 21-gun salute as a gesture of "welcome".