The Air and Space Armies, Army and Navy will develop from this Monday until Friday a joint operation aimed at increasing the effectiveness of presence, surveillance, and deterrence missions in the southern area of the Peninsula.
According to the Chief of Defense Staff (EMAD) in a statement, the military exercise, called "Eagle Eye 26-03", will be directed by the Air Operational Command and under the operational control of the Operations Command, and will have as main scenarios the Málaga Air Base and the waters of the Alboran Sea.
Regarding the Air and Space Army, six F-18s from Wing 15, usually based in Zaragoza, will temporarily move to the Málaga Air Base to undertake a Quick Reaction Alert mission.
These alarm services allow aircraft to take off in less than 15 minutes from the detection of an unidentified trace. With this capability, surveillance is reinforced and the training of personnel in air policing tasks within national airspace is perfected.
The air surveillance will fall under the Central Command and Control Group (GRUCEMAC), located at the Torrejón Air Base, which will use information from the various Air Surveillance Squadrons (EVA), in addition to data generated by other land and naval sensors.
Due to its geographical location, EVA 3, in Constantina (Sevilla), EVA 9, in Motril (Granada), and EVA 11, in Alcalá de los Gazules (Cádiz), will directly participate in this activation.
The command and control post during the exercise will be the Air Operations Center (AOC), also at the Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base (Madrid). From these facilities, the tactical control of surveillance missions, air policing, and defense of national sovereignty airspace will be carried out.
Deployment of the Army in Málaga
As for the Army, the Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit (UDAA) II-73 will position itself around the Málaga Air Base and in the city's port, with the aim of providing additional anti-aircraft coverage and reinforcing airspace surveillance in the area.
In this joint operation, the UDAA "Carthago" is organized based on the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command (MAAA) and is led by the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (GAAA) II/73, based in Cartagena (Murcia).
The Navy contributes the frigate "Méndez Núñez"
On the part of the Navy, the frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104) will operate in the Alboran Sea with the mission of integrating into the air defense system, adding capabilities for detection, surveillance, and air defense, thus reinforcing the coverage of the Air Surveillance Squadrons and the deployed UDAA.
The "Méndez Núñez" has advanced radar and missile systems that allow it to identify and neutralize threats at great distances, ensuring effective protection of the airspace.
The EMAD has emphasized that the activation of the "Eagle Eye" highlights the "unwavering" commitment of the Armed Forces to the "security of Spain" and confirms the commitment to "peace and stability in Spanish territory."