Offshore patrol vessel Tornado performs maritime surveillance operation in the Canary Islands

• During her sailing, she will also participate in the Sinergia 25 activation executing synchronised operations.

The offshore patrol vessel OPV Tornado has begun surveillance and security operations in maritime areas of national interest in the Canary Islands, as part of the Spanish Armed Forces' permanent operations.

During this sailing, Tornado will participate, between 15 and 21 September in the Sinergia 25 activation. In Sinergia 25 operational commanders will reinforce surveillance in all areas of national interest, with the execution of synchronised and coordinated operations by the Operations Command.

Tornado, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Pablo Mendez Estevez, has a crew of 51 mariners committed to the assigned mission. Tornado will coordinate her actions with the Air and Space Force units involved in Sinergia 25 to carry out mutual training. This activity is part of the presence, surveillance and deterrence operations (OPVD), for which Tornado is integrated into the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) and under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS).

Maritime Action Ships

The offshore patrol vessel OPV Tornado P-44 is organically part of the Command of the Maritime Action Force Units in the Canary Islands. Her home port is Las Palmas Naval Base. She is part of the Maritime Action Force (FAM) which, within the Fleet, is made up of a group of units whose main task is to protect national maritime interests and control maritime areas of sovereignty and national interest. Likewise, with a comprehensive approach, they ensure permanent cooperation with the various public administration entities with competences in the maritime field, which constitutes the Navy's contribution to the State's action at sea.

OPV Tornado P-44, built by Navantia at the San Fernando shipyards, was launched in 2011 and made available to the Navy in July 2012. After the official delivery, she established her home port at Las Palmas Naval Base in Gran Canaria. She is the fourth ship in a class of six units (in Spanish called BAM), the first four of which are based in Las Palmas.

Maritime Operational Command (MOM)

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is part of the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence (JEMAD), responsible, at its level, for planning, conducting and monitoring operations involving presence, surveillance and deterrence in maritime areas of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the Admiral of Maritime Action (ALMART), Vice Admiral Victoriano Gilabert Agote, and is headquartered in Cartagena.

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations are an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of areas of sovereignty, enabling early detection of threats and facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

The Land (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Air (MOA), Space (MOESPA) and Cyberspace (MOC) Operational Commands make up the Permanent Commands structure. Every day, thousands of Armed Forces personnel are involved in permanent operations under the operational control of the Operations Command.