The Tigru Tactical Air Detachment Reaches 25,000 Flight Hours in Support of NATO’s Eastern Flank Air Surveillance

• This new milestone highlights the professionalism, commitment, and high level of technical readiness of all Spanish service members who have contributed to the detachment since its initial deployment

The AN/TPS-43M air surveillance radar, deployed at the Tactical Air Detachment (TAD) Tigru, has reached 25,000 operational hours as part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS), one of the capabilities included in the Alliance’s Standing Defence Plan, Persistent Effort. This radar system, operated by the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA by its Spanish acronym) of the Spanish Air and Space Force, has been deployed at the Schitu Air Base since October 2022.

This achievement is the result of the dedication and continuous availability of every member of the detachment. TAD Tigru personnel work tirelessly to ensure the uninterrupted surveillance of Allied airspace.

“Each operational hour of the radar system is the result of the dedication and perseverance of all those who have served in this detachment since the very beginning, making the successful execution of the mission possible day after day,” stated Commander Rodríguez Esquivel, Force Commander of the tenth rotation of TAD Tigru. “Reaching this milestone demonstrates the collective effort involved and represents a source of pride for all of us,” she added.

“Being deployed outside national territory entails significant personal and professional sacrifices. In this mission, speed and effectiveness in resolving technical incidents are especially critical and require maintaining a high standard at all times,” stated Lieutenant Latre.

The 25,000 operational hours of the AN/TPS-43M radar do not merely represent a technical figure, but rather the combined effort of all personnel from the ten contingents that have rotated through the detachment to date. These hours reflect countless tasks related to maintenance, watch duties, continuous training, logistics, force protection, technical troubleshooting, communications assurance, medical support, and the coordination and synchronization of all these capabilities, each one based on the direct contribution of every member of TAD Tigru.

Spain in NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence – Persistent Effort

The AN/TPS-43M radar deployed at TAD Tigru is part of NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) operations conducted under NATO’s Standing Defence Plan – Persistent Effort. This operation also includes other Spanish force contributions, such as the NASAMS Surface-Based Air Defence Unit deployed in Latvia, the Patriot missile battery deployed in Türkiye, as well as TAD Vilkas, deployed in Lithuania in support of NATO Air Policing missions.