The vessel 'Relámpago' begins its participation in permanent surveillance and deterrence operations.

• The Navy vessel carries out a surveillance and security patrol in maritime areas under national sovereignty.

The maritime action ship 'Relámpago' (P-43), belonging to the Maritime Action Force, under the Naval Command of the Canary Islands and based at the Arsenal of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has set sail. Its main mission comprises maritime surveillance tasks in the waters of the Canary Islands archipelago in order to contribute to guarantee the security of the maritime areas of national interest within the framework of the Permanent Operations of the Spanish Armed Forces, integrated in the Maritime Operational Command and under the operational control of the Operations Command.

During this operation, the vessel will call at the port of Malaga.

Among the missions assigned during its patrol is the contribution to the Maritime Environment Awareness (MEA), an enabling element for the rest of the operations and the Maritime Security Operations (MSO), which constitute the specific actions against threats and illegal acts that endanger security in the maritime environment.

Vessel ‘Relámpago’

The BAM 'Relámpago' is the third in the series of four maritime action ships under the Naval Command of the Canary Islands, based at the Las Palmas Arsenal, designed to carry out maritime security missions, protection of national maritime interests and control of areas of sovereignty and national interest, as well as missions in collaboration with State Security Forces and Corps at sea, such as operations against drug trafficking or terrorism. They also carry out missions of control and protection of maritime traffic; surveillance and control of fishing and fight against maritime pollution.

Maritime Action Force (MAF)

The MAF, integrated in the fleet, is formed by the set of units whose main task is to prepare for the protection of international maritime interests and the control of maritime spaces of national sovereignty and interest, being in charge, with a comprehensive approach, of ensuring permanent cooperation with the various government agencies with competences in the maritime field, which constitutes the Navy's contribution to the State's Action at Sea.

Maritime Operational Command

The Maritime Operational Command is the body of the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defense Staff, responsible, at his level, for planning, conducting and monitoring the permanent surveillance and security operations of the maritime areas of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the Admiral of Maritime Action and is headquartered in Cartagena.

Permanent Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

Permanent surveillance and deterrence operations are an effective tool to maintain surveillance of sovereign spaces, which allows for early detection of threats and facilitates an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

The Land, Maritime, Aerospace and Cyberspace Operational Commands make up the Permanent Command structure. On a daily basis, there are some 3,000 Armed Forces personnel involved in permanent operations, under the operational control of the Operations Command.