Relief at the NASAMS Air Defence Unit in Latvia

• As part of NATO's Operation Persistent Effort, Spanish military personnel have demonstrated rapid response capabilities and cooperation among allies to ensure security in Eastern Europe

Rotations VII and VIII of Spain's NASAMS Air Defense Unit (UDAA), part of NATO's Operation Persistent Effort, held a Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony today at Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia.

The military ceremony was presided over by Brigadier General Miguel Ángel Sáez Nievas, Deputy Chief of Operations, who, during his speech, highlighted the high degree of professionalism achieved by UDAA VII—under the command of Commander Javier de Coig O'Donnell Marquina—during its deployment, as well as the importance of maintaining operational continuity in such a demanding and challenging multinational environment: “Your mission, integrated air and missile defense, is one of the most complex and specialized in the Atlantic Alliance, but it brings with it the satisfaction of being protagonists in a real and permanent mission.”

Alongside General Saez, as well as military representatives from the United States and Canada, Colonel Viesturs Masulis, Chief of the Latvian Air Force, attended the event and, in his speech during the military parade, thanked Spain for its significant contribution to the security of the Alliance in Latvia. ‘Each handover ceremony is a new demonstration of Spain's capabilities, operational readiness and commitment to the security of our skies.’

Also present was Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Díaz Simón, outgoing head of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup and the Spanish contingent in Latvia, who witnessed the transfer of responsibilities to UDAA VIII, commanded by Commander Jaime Caballero Jiménez, who now assumes the mission of defending Baltic airspace using the NASAMS system.

After the ceremony, Commander Coig, head of the outgoing force, emphasised that "UDAA VII concludes its deployment with the satisfaction of a job well done. We have worked with cohesion and professionalism, we have fully integrated ourselves into the allied air defence and we have maintained the operability of the NASAMS system at all times. We have fulfilled our mission, and we leave the handover with the certainty that the incoming unit will continue the work with the same dedication and efficiency.

UDAA NASAMS in Operation Persistent Effort

The Spanish contingent of the UDAA NASAMS deployed at the Lielvārde air base (Latvia) is part of Operation Persistent Effort, which also currently includes the “Tigru” detachment —with the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA in Spanish) radar— deployed in Romania, and the PATRIOT battery stationed in Turkey.

The NASAMS system, equipped with medium-range AMRAAM launchers and AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar, provides high-precision air surveillance and interception capabilities and is fully integrated into NATO's air defence network in the region.

The continued presence of the NASAMS UDAA in Latvia underscores Spain's commitment to regional security and collective Atlantic defence, contributing in a sustained manner to the stability of the Baltic in an increasingly demanding strategic context.