Arrival of Delta 4 aircraft at Tactical Air Detachment ‘Orion’

•  The D4 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft is part of ‘Atalanta operation’, which provides surveillance and deterrence against piracy and illicit trafficking in the Indian Ocean

After completing a route of more than 4,800 nautical miles (some 9,000 kilometres), and having made a total of four stopovers, the Maritime Surveillance Delta 4 aircraft has landed in Djibouti.

The deployment began on 18 September and was divided into five legs. During this journey, a Spanish D4 aircraft landed at Dubai International Airport for the first time.

The crew, belonging to the 49th Air and Space Force Wing, was received by Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Ángel Pérez Cabrera, Force Commander of the 52nd Contingent. This is the 91st rotation of air crew members since the Air Tactical Detachment ‘Orion’ began, in September 2008, its deployment in the facilities of the French Armed Forces Air Base 188 in Djibouti.

The rest of the military personnel who make up this contingent arrived the previous day at the base in Djibouti aboard an A400. They join the rest of the contingent, which had been deployed in the area since 3 September to complete the missions assigned during the inter-monsoon period.

The D4 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft performs its tasks within the framework of Atalanta operation. More specifically, it carries out maritime surveillance missions in order to prevent and assist in the fight against acts of piracy, as well as to prevent illegal activities off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.

“Atalanta operation”

Atalanta operation' 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 the strong support of Spain, it became the first European Union naval operation to be conducted within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy.

At the end of 2022, the EU Council approved the extension of the operation's mandate until December 2024, reflecting the achievements made and the challenges for the future. Throughout this time, the area of operations has been extended in successive mandates and now encompasses the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring countries, including the port and city of Muscat (Oman), the Somali Basin, 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 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 the Atalanta operation.

Spain currently contributes to Operation Atlanta with approximately 350 military personnel, as well as the following infrastructures, ships, aircraft and units:

- The Operation Headquarters, OHQ, at Rota Naval Base.

- One frigate/warship

- One on-board helicopter

- One on-board special operations team

- One maritime reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft in Djibouti.

- Liaison offices located in Mogadishu (Somalia), Manama (Bahrain), Brussels (Belgium) and Port Victoria (Seychelles).

- Operation Logistics Support Unit deployed in Djibouti (Djibouti).

As a sign of our commitment to the security of the region, Spain has been the only country in the European Union to have participated continuously in ‘’Atalanta operation‘’ since its launch 16 years ago. 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 ships.