Lieutenant Colonel Francisco José Moreno Chaves, head of DAT Orion: “We have spent our entire professional lives preparing for these international operations.”

• Since 2008, Spanish aircraft in Djibouti have flown more than 15,000 hours in support of Operation Atalanta during the intermonsoon periods, because that is when “there is a higher rate of illegal activity”.

In a few days, Lieutenant Colonel Francisco José Moreno Chaves (Melilla, 1976)—stationed at Wing 46 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria—will return to Spain at the head of his crew, a team of 50 aviators, with the satisfaction of a well-executed air mission. All of them belong to the 56th contingent of the ‘Orion’ Tactical Air Detachment (TAD), which began its mission in Djibouti at the start of last September. For the lieutenant colonel, it has been “a great honor” to lead this team of Air and Space Force personnel and, even more so, to represent Spain together in this African country as part of Operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta.

Back in 2008, Spain began its air deployment in Djibouti with the dispatch of a P-3M Orion aircraft, which “we all love dearly, but we knew that it had reached the end of its operational life.” Therefore, in 2022, it was replaced by the VIGMA (standing for Maritime Surveillance)  D4 aircraft, “a more suitable aircraft for surveillance missions due to the great capacity of its sensors,” which is only deployed during the intermonsoon periods.

In this interview, the head of the 56th ‘Orion’ contingent breaks down his intense mission, which has been marked by some 250 flight hours—including participation in the rescue operation of the merchant ship ‘Hellas Aphroditeo’—many hours of maintenance and preparation of the aircraft and all equipment, and excellent relations with the international forces of allied and friendly countries deployed in Djibouti: “I am convinced that they all consider the Spanish military to be perfectly trained and totally committed to the mission and to serving Spain, and that we carry out our duties with professionalism, self-sacrifice, dedication, and without excuses.”

How has the contingent prepared to deploy in a joint international operation such as Atalanta in a complex region such as the Horn of Africa?

Although it may sound cliché, we have spent our entire professional lives preparing for these international operations, which are a magnificent opportunity to transfer our daily training to a real mission, whose main objective is always to contribute to global security and stability and, therefore, to Spain.

Within national territory, interactions between the Army and Navy are frequent and focused on optimizing joint action and interoperability. Our specific missions are different, but our essence is the same: to serve Spain wherever it is determined. Something similar happens when we deploy with other allied and friendly countries, because we all pursue the common good. This shared sentiment, together with our adaptability and versatility, is the foundation that unites us all to fulfill our mission in the most efficient way.

On the other hand, before deploying, we receive specific instruction on Operation Atalanta—both from the Operations Command and the Combat Air Command—which focuses mainly on refining our knowledge of the area of operations and our actions in this mission. In addition, we make a great effort to get to know our country of deployment, Djibouti, and its people well, because we are very aware of the importance of our relationship with all of them, who are our hosts.

Our D4 aircraft only deploys during the intermonsoon periods. Why is this the case, and what are the aircraft's tasks?

Indeed, the aircraft is only in Djibouti during these periods, but this is not so much due to operational limitations as to poor sea conditions. On the contrary, the weather and, above all, sea conditions are more favorable during these intermonsoon periods, which leads to a higher rate of illicit activities related to the mission's purpose. Hence, the aircraft is deployed during these periods.

As for the D.4, it is a VIGMA aircraft capable of performing both maritime surveillance and SAR search and rescue. To this end, it incorporates a series of sensors that enable it to detect the presence of a vessel from a certain distance. The main actors in the accomplishment of this mission are the VIGMA Tactical Operations Supervisor (TOS-VIGMA), the equipment operators, and the observers. More specifically, the STO sets priorities based on the orders received, gives instructions to the aircraft commander on the area and maneuvers to be performed to obtain the best possible results, while directing the actions of the operators and observers. He is also responsible for radioing the relevant messages to vessels sailing in the surveillance or search areas, as well as notifying the tactical command via satellite of any developments that need to be reported immediately.

And when D.4 is not in Djibouti, what is the role of the airmen who remain at Orion TAD?

Without a doubt, their presence is absolutely necessary to ensure the mission's operational readiness. When there is no aircraft in the area, the contingent is reduced to 15 people, who are responsible for maintaining the facilities and ensuring that the electronic and telecommunications equipment remains operational. Thanks to their work and effort, everything is ready for the aircraft to begin operating from the first day it lands in Djibouti, which would not be possible if the detachment were deactivated. In addition, this small team of aviators performs an essential institutional task, as it demonstrates Spain's ongoing commitment and also helps to update our situational awareness, which is very necessary to ensure the safety of our forces in the area of operations.

The frigate Victoria also participates in Operation Atalanta as the flagship. How is communication and organization between the two?

The frigate Victoria and the D.4 aircraft operate with their respective crews, but both are under the tactical control of the Force Commander of Operation Atalanta (FHQ), who is always on board. The FHQ is responsible for optimizing the synergistic action of the D.4 and the frigate through constant communication. In our case, the Orion Tactical Air Detachment makes the aircraft's capabilities and crew available to the FHQ under previously agreed operating conditions.

Together with the Victoria, you participated in the rescue of the merchant ship Hellas Aphrodite. How was this operation carried out?

During this operation, the D.4 was always at the disposal of the FHQ to carry out ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions, which are possible thanks to the sensors and photographic equipment on board, operated by the aircraft's expert crew. In this context, the D.4 took off on two consecutive days to fly over the area of the piracy event and provide the FHQ commander with an accurate picture of the situation, which was decisive for his decision-making and, ultimately, the return to normality.

Are we facing a new surge in piracy in the region?

We are operating in a complex environment in which piracy and other activities (arms, human and drug trafficking, among others) are contained, but far from eradicated, as we have seen in recent days. In this context, the contribution of our air detachment to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean remains essential. And the figures speak for themselves: since 2008, a large number of missions have been carried out and more than 15,000 flight hours have been logged, providing European authorities with high-quality intelligence that has undoubtedly contributed to the decision-making process in the fight against piracy.

In just a few days, your mission in Djibouti will come to an end. What will you take away from all these months at the helm of ‘Orion’?

Firstly, I am delighted that we are all returning home with the conviction that we have done our best to fulfill our mission. At this time, I would like to highlight and thank the crews and the various teams who, from their respective areas, have supported the execution of air operations. Djibouti is a country with high safety standards within the region, but the D.4's operating environment is complex and requires extensive preparation. Despite all this, the airmen have performed at a high level, with unwavering loyalty and constant dedication. With such a magnificent team, the task of command becomes much easier. It has been a great honor to be the head of the 56th contingent of the Spanish ‘Orion’ Tactical Air Detachment.