The 4th Coast Artillery Regiment deploys to Campo de Gibraltar

• RACTA 4 plans a Coastal Defence Unit to reinforce maritime surveillance in the Gibraltar area

The Coastal Artillery Regiment No. 4 (RACTA 4), belonging to the Field Artillery Command of the Spanish Army, has formed a Coastal Defence Unit (UDACTA) with the aim of reinforcing the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) in its surveillance capacity of the areas under national sovereignty. In this way, it complements the real-time control of maritime traffic by reporting vessels that carry out any type of suspicious activity in the Gibraltar area.

Sensors, artillery units and transmission elements, in addition to more than 200 military personnel, will be deployed in the area until 24 September.

In addition, alongside the artillery personnel of RACTA 4, a company from the ‘Saboya’ Infantry Regiment No. 6, based in Badajoz, will participate, whose mission will be to guarantee the security of the UDACTA.

Coast Artillery Regiment No. 4

RACTA 4 is the only Army unit that is equipped and trained to generate coastal defence and control capacity at any point of the national geography, on the peninsula or on the islands, or in any other place where international commitments require it. This expeditionary capacity is provided by the mobility of its resources and its communications systems.

Maritime Operational Command (MOM)

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is the body of the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD) responsible, at his level, for planning, conducting and monitoring permanent surveillance and security operations in maritime areas of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the Admiral of Maritime Affairs (ALMART) and is based in Cartagena.

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations aim to maintain permanent surveillance of sovereign spaces. In this context, the Land (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Air (MOA), Cyberspace (MOC) and Space (MOESPA) Operational Commands make up the structure of the permanent operational organisation. On a daily basis, some 3,000 Armed Forces personnel are involved in these types of operations under the operational control of the Operations Command.