Tactical Air Detachment ‘Orion’ marks 16 years of deployment in Djibouti

• Since 2008, the detachment has been helping to combat acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of ‘Atalanta operation’

The Air and Space Army's Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) ‘Orion’ has been deployed in Djibouti since 2008. During these 16 years, it has carried out a total of 2,075 maritime surveillance and reconnaissance missions and more than 14,900 flight hours, which have contributed to improve maritime security in the waters of the Gulf of Aden and the coasts of Somalia.

Throughout these years, more than 2,000 Spanish military personnel have formed part of this detachment, which began its career under the national flag in operation ‘Centinela Índico’.

Currently, the DAT ‘Orion’ consists of about 50 military personnel and is equipped with a D-4 VIGMA maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Until December 2022, it operated mainly with the P-3 Orion of the 11th Wing, the aircraft that gave its name to the detachment.

As a sign of our commitment to the security of the region, Spain has been the only country in the European Union that has participated uninterruptedly in ‘Atalanta Operation’ since its beginning. In this context, the ‘Orion’ detachment contributes to the objective of this European military operation: to provide surveillance and deterrence against piracy and illicit trafficking in the Indian Ocean, as well as to collaborate in the protection of World Food Programme vessels.

‘Atalanta operation’

Operation Atalanta was the result of a series of UN resolutions adopted following the increase in acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean from 2005 onwards, and, with Spain's strong support, became the first EU naval operation to be carried out within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

At the end of 2022, the EU Council approved the extension of the operation's mandate until December 2024, reflecting the achievements and challenges for the future. Throughout this time, the area of operations has been expanded under successive mandates and now encompasses the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring countries, including the port and city of Muscat (Oman), the Somali water body, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Since 29 March 2019, after taking over from the United Kingdom, Spain has been leading the operation from the Operational Headquarters (OHQ), located at the Rota Naval Base (Cádiz). Since 23 November 2023, following his appointment by the EU Council, Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano has been the commander of Atalanta operation.

-      Spain is currently contributing to Operation Atlanta with approximately 350 military personnel, as well as the following assets and units:

• The Operation Headquarters, OHQ, at the Rota Naval Base.
• One frigate/warship
•  An on-board helicopter
• An on-board special operations team.
• One maritime reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft (DAT ‘Orion’) in Djibouti.
•  Liaison offices located in Mogadishu (Somalia), Manama (Bahrain), Brussels (Belgium) and Port Victoria (Seychelles).
• Operation Logistics Support Unit deployed in Djibouti (Djibouti).