UDAA NASAM personnel in Latvia joins different drills

•  Collaborations have been carried out with the Army of Latvia, the UDAA NASAMS 'Latvia' and the Tactical Air Detachment 'Amber' in the exercises 'Angry Flame', 'Space War' and 'Baltic Gunner'

Spanish personnel stationed in the Air Defence Unit (UDAA) NASAMS in Latvia have participated in the 'Angry Flame 23' drill at the invitation of the head of the Latvian ADW (Air Defence Wing). This exercise has been commanded by the Latvia Air Force starting with a first crisis situation and ending in a high intensity conflict phase.

The UDAA's participation was during the planning phase and then executed a simulation exercise during the last live phase of the exercise. The objective was to simulate as closely as possible the air mission being executed.

Once the planning and coordination with the CRC (Control and Reporting Center) in Tallinn had begun, in the first phase, the tasks of the Air Defence Unit were pre-established through the exchange of information to determine how it would be carried out.

The Control Centre proceeded to create a scenario that would be projected and fought from the AADU itself.

Lieutenant Álvaro Isaías Hoyas Romero, deployed at the Amari Base, also took an active part in the second day of the Space War in Tallinn.

The exercise consisted of a mock situation in which different enemy targets had to be fought, such as drones, fixed-wing aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. For its execution, the higher command was in charge of the deployment and coordination of the 'friendly' units, deciding which was the most appropriate to use at any given moment in the face of the different types of threats. This decision-making took into account the moment when the enemy was detected, the place where it was located and the type of enemy, with key factors being the speed at which it advanced and how difficult it was to beat it.

The Spanish officer was in charge of controlling this system and was in direct contact with the Latvia army liaison. One of the main objectives was to maintain perfect communication between the two parties at all times.

The 'Baltic Gunnery' exercise was carried out in the context of two real military operations. Two NASAMS air defence units coincided nearby in an international theatre on the northeastern flank of the Atlantic Alliance, forming the air defence units 'Latvia' and 'Estonia.

Spanish Eurofighters from the Amber Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) of the NATO Baltic Air Police (BAP) mission were also present in the Baltic countries. Also aircraft from the 1st Squadron of the Latvia Air Force deployed at Ämari Air Base. It was a unique opportunity to carry out an exercise that would have been very difficult to carry out on national territory, both because of its size and its joint-combined nature, and also because it was intended to be a LIVEX (live) exercise.

The main objective of these exercises is to achieve maximum cooperation between the different parts of air defence deployed in Latvia. These collaborations are a good opportunity to get to know how allied armies work and to make joint work more effective.