The Maritime Operational Command strengthens its presence in the waters of the Strait, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands archipelago

• During the Sinergia 25 activation, naval, land and air units transferred to the MOM reinforce surveillance in areas of national interest

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is participating, with its transferred units, in the activation of Sinergia 25, in which operational commands reinforce surveillance in all areas of national interest. In this way, the Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Centre (COVAM), located in Cartagena, monitors the operations carried out by units of the three armed forces to ensure security.

Within this operational framework, the offshore patrol vessel OPV Centinela is conducting a presence, surveillance, and deterrence operation in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. Her crew includes an Operational Security Team from the Tercio de Levante Marine Corps Regiment. OPV Centinela is monitoring maritime traffic through these waters.

Concurrently, frigate Reina Sofía has set sail to monitor two Russian Federation naval units transiting through our maritime areas of interest. Specifically, these are the submarine Novorossiysk and the auxiliary vessel Yakov Grebelsky. After completing her tasks, the Reina Sofía called in the port of Melilla.

In the meantime, a D4 aircraft, belonging to Wing 49 of the Air and Space Force, took off from the Son San Juan Air Base in Palma de Mallorca to patrol the Alboran Sea, in direct support of the Maritime Operational Command.

RACTA No. 4 of the Army's Field Artillery Command (MACA) deployed its Coastal Artillery Defence Units (UDACTA) in the Campo de Gibraltar. The UDACTA is part of the Maritime Operational Command, with sensors, artillery pieces and communications equipment. These capabilities of the Armed Forces significantly increase surveillance and observation of the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, which is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

From her base in Ceuta, the patrol boat Isla de León is sailing through the maritime areas of interest in the vicinity of the autonomous city and the Spanish territories in North Africa, also integrated into this operational activation coordinated from COVAM.

Finally, in the waters of the Canary Islands, OPV Tornado is conducting surveillance and verification of maritime traffic near the islands, after calling at the island of La Gomera this past weekend. It is expected to collaborate with the Air Operations Command during the execution of Eagle Eye 25-3 in Canary Island waters.

Sinergia 25

In addition to the contribution of the MOM, during the activation of Synergy 25, the other Operational Commands —Land (MOT), Air (MOA), Cyberspace (MOC) and Space (MOESPA)— are carrying out their own presence, surveillance and deterrence actions, coordinated from the Operations Command (MOPS). On land, units are deployed in Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.

The MOA has activated Eagle Eye 25-3 in the Canary Islands and the Atlantic Ocean, with the main objective of integrating the capabilities of the Air and Space Force, the Army, and the Navy into the national air defence system, while improving efficiency in the development of presence, surveillance and deterrence operations (OPVD).

In this context of comprehensive defence, the MOC will be dedicated to monitoring the networks in its environment, while MOESPA will provide products related to GPS accuracy and satellite overflight for the benefit of the other operational commands and the MOPS.

These activations reflect the fundamental values of the Armed Forces: teamwork, dedication and spirit of service, but above all, commitment to the defence and security of Spain.