Coastal Defence Unit from Coastal Artillery Regiment No. 4 Deploys to Mallorca

• For several days, the unit will reinforce maritime surveillance and report any vessel engaged in illicit activities

A Coastal Defence Unit (UDACTA in Spanish) from Coastal Artillery Regiment N. 4 (RACTA 4), under the command of the Field Artillery Command, has been deployed to Palma de Mallorca as part of the Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD). These operations are directed by the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) and placed under the operational control of the Commander of the Operations Command (CMOPS in Spanish).

The main tasks of the deployed unit include enhancing maritime domain awareness through joint surveillance efforts in the Bay of Palma and monitoring maritime traffic to detect and report any vessels conducting suspicious or potentially unlawful activity.

The Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations are a key mechanism to maintain control over sovereign spaces. They enable the early detection of threats and allow for a rapid and effective response to any potential crisis. In this framework, the Armed Forces employ their operational capabilities to detect, and if necessary, immediately respond to threats within Spain’s maritime areas of sovereignty.

RACTA 4 holds a unique position within the Spanish Army, being the only unit equipped and trained specifically for coastal defence and control operations across the national territory—and, when required, in international deployments.

This is not the first time RACTA 4 has deployed a UDACTA to the Balearic Islands. The unit has previously conducted deployments both in Mallorca and Menorca. These activations, carried out under the umbrella of the OPVD, also serve to train the unit’s expeditionary capabilities, which pose a significant logistical challenge. Given the regiment’s home garrisons in San Fernando and Tarifa (Cádiz province), the deployment to Mallorca requires a complex transport operation involving road, sea, and air assets to move personnel, vehicles, sensors, artillery pieces, communications equipment, and command and logistical elements.

The unit's expeditionary nature is underpinned by the mobility of its equipment and the connectivity provided by its communications systems, which have proven effective in previous territorial deployments. In this activation, troops and assets from the Balearic Islands General Command also took part, including a company from Regiment Palma 47, tasked with immediate local defence and logistical support for the deployment.

Maritime Operational Command

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM in Spanish) is part of the operational structure of the Spanish Armed Forces and reports directly to the Chief of Defence (JEMAD). It is responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of permanent maritime security and surveillance operations across national areas of sovereignty, responsibility, and interest. It is commanded by the Admiral for Maritime Action (ALMART in Spanish) and headquartered in Cartagena.

Permanent Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

These operations represent a vital and effective tool for maintaining continuous surveillance over national sovereign areas. They are designed to identify emerging threats early and ensure that a viable and immediate response can be delivered in the event of a potential crisis.

The Permanent Commands—Land, Maritime, Aerospace, and the recently established Cyberspace —form the backbone of Spain’s constant national security posture. On any given day, around 3,000 Armed Forces personnel are engaged in these operations under the operational control of the Operations Command.