The frigate Victoria and the Orion Detachment have participated in the international exercise Doraleh II.

• As part of Operation Atalanta, the ship has carried out anti-piracy and boarding procedures

The frigate Victoria and the Orion Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) took part in the international exercise Doraleh II, organized jointly by the EUNAVFOR Atalanta operational command and the Djibouti Regional Training Center.

The frigate Victoria docked at the port of Djibouti to participate in activities carried out at the Regional Training Center (DRTC) facilities. This exercise included a day at sea to conduct a boarding exercise with mutual opposition between the Japanese and Spanish, where Japanese destroyer Harusame and a Djibouti Navy patrol boat participated

The Victoria had on board more than thirty observers from the navies of countries involved in or related to the Indian Ocean maritime community, such as Japan, Somalia, and Djibouti. Also on board was a delegation from the European agency CRIMARIO (an initiative created in 2015 with the aim of supporting Indo-Pacific countries through training initiatives and information sharing). Observers from Somalia and Djibouti participated in the assault, accompanying the special operations team and the Trozo de Visita y Registro during their raid on the supposedly hijacked merchant ship.

For its part, DAT ‘Orión’ has collaborated in the exercise by providing training sessions on aerial search and rescue at the DRTC, where it also hosted a visit to its detachment to demonstrate on site the capabilities of the D.4 VIGMA aircraft for this type of mission.

The conferences included presentations on the legislation and structure of an Air Search and Rescue (SAR) Service, and on tactics, techniques, and procedures.

During the visit to the DAT ‘Orion’, attendees had the opportunity to check the capabilities of the D.4 VIGMA aircraft to carry out air search and rescue missions. Although this type of mission is not the main role of the DAT in Operation Atalanta, the crews and the aircraft are always ready to act if necessary in a Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) event, such as incidents where human life is in danger at sea.

These types of exercises not only strengthen the capabilities of countries in the region, but also demonstrate the EU's commitment to security and cooperation in the Horn of Africa, particularly in key areas such as maritime security and air search and rescue.

Operation Atalanta

Operation Atalanta is the result of a series of UN resolutions adopted following the increase in acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean since 2005. With the firm support of Spain, it became—by decision of the EU Council in November 2008—the European Union's first naval operation.

As a sign of its commitment to security in the region, Spain has been the only European Union country to participate continuously in Operation Atalanta since its launch 16 years ago. Since 2019, it has also led the operation from its headquarters in Rota (Cádiz).