Sinergia 25 exercise ends after a week of reinforcing the protection and security of the population and the national territory

•  Military personnel from all operational commands have been deployed in the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and the Spanish islets in North Africa

The Sinergia 25 exercise has ended after a week of deployment to reinforce the protection of areas of interest and guarantee the security of the population and the territory.

Sinergia 25 is part of the permanent Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence (OPVD) operations and is coordinated through the Operations Command (MOPS) with units and military personnel from all operational commands.

As for the Land Operations Command (MOT), under the command of Lieutenant General Julio Salom Herrera, it has mobilised more than 1,000 military personnel in the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and the national islets.

In the land domain, the Canary Islands Tactical Group, made up of personnel from the 16th Canary Islands Brigade, stands out for its simultaneous deployment across the eight islands of the archipelago. Land patrols, surveillance of critical infrastructure and reinforcement of security in areas of interest were carried out on all of them.

The 94th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, complemented the Cancerbero Anti-Aircraft Defence Unit (UDAA) Cancerbero, formed from the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group/73, located in Marines (Valencia), with a NASAMS battery, a section of 35/90 anti-aircraft guns, and two MISTRAL firing positions, which were deployed at the Gando Air Base.

In Melilla, a section of the Tercio Gran Capitán 1º de la Legión was deployed by sea to reinforce the Chafarinas detachment. Likewise, a tactical subgroup from the 8th Engineer Regiment carried out reconnaissance in different areas of the autonomous city of Melilla in coordination with naval and air activities.

Meanwhile, in Ceuta, a section of the Ceuta Tactical Group carried out patrols to increase presence and deterrence, while the ships of the Compañía de Mar reinforced surveillance of the Perejil islet.

Finally, the Balearic Tactical Group, made up of soldiers from the 47th Palma Infantry Regiment, carried out presence and reconnaissance patrols in Majorca, including environmental surveillance activities in coordination with civil authorities.

Private Jairo Tabares Arrocha, a native of La Palma and assigned to the 49th Tenerife Infantry Regiment just five months ago, has been deployed for the first time with the Canary Islands Tactical Group. “It has been a very nice experience as a newly enlisted soldier to work so closely with the population. This reminds me why I joined the Army and that I dress my uniform to serve.”

In the case of the Maritime Operational Command (MOM), various Navy vessels; a D4 aircraft from the 49th Wing of the Air and Space Force; and Coastal Artillery Defence Units (UDACTA) from the Army; have coordinated their various actions to increase surveillance and observation of the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, in addition to other vessels sailing in the Canary Islands.

The Air Operational Command (MOA) 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, as well as increasing efficiency in the development of OPVDs.

Finally, in this context of comprehensive defence, the Cyber Operations Command (MOC) has maintained permanent surveillance of the networks in its environment, while the Space Operations Command (MOESPA) provided products related to GPS accuracy and satellite overflights for the benefit of the other operational commands and the MOPS.