Navy vessels monitor Russian naval units in waters of interest in northern and southern Spain

•  In Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations, the frigate Blas de Lezo and the patrol boats Vigía and Medas carry out maritime surveillance and security missions in their areas of responsibility

The frigate (F-103) Blas de Lezo was alerted and mobilised at its home port of Ferrol to carry out, as part of the Maritime Operational Command (CMOM), a mission to track two Russian units sailing from the Baltic Sea towards the Mediterranean Sea. With this objective in mind, the Spanish ship, commanded by Commander Pedro Ramos Carbonell, set sail.

The monitoring began at the northern limit of the Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, where the Russian units were being monitored by a French frigate. After the handover, the “Blas de Lezo” began its surveillance mission. For two days, it continuously tracked and monitored the Russian units, accompanying them during their transit through Spanish waters, as part of the permanent Surveillance, Presence and Deterrence Operations which, under the operational control of the Operations Command, contribute to the comprehensive protection of maritime areas of sovereignty and interest to Spain.

Finally, the frigate Blas de Lezo was relieved of its task by a Portuguese patrol boat and began its return journey to its home port, the Military Arsenal in Ferrol.

Next, after leaving Portuguese waters, the patrol boat Vigía, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Alfredo Rodríguez González, took over the task of monitoring these vessels as they passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Meanwhile, under the command of Lieutenant Santiago González-Aller Rodríguez, the patrol boat Medas monitored the navigation of two other Russian ships as they transited the Alboran Sea and returned to its home port in Cadiz after completing its assigned maritime surveillance and security tasks.

Maritime Operational Command and the OPVD

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is the operational arm of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence (JEMAD in Spanish) and responsible, at its level, for the planning, conduct and monitoring of 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 Vicente Cuquerella Gamboa, and is based in Cartagena.

Integrated into the MOM, various Navy vessels carry out, under the operational control of the Operations Command, Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD), which are an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of areas of sovereignty and interest, increasing knowledge of the maritime environment, contributing to its comprehensive protection —together with other State institutions— and also detecting threats in advance and facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

Together with the MOM, the Land Operations Command (MOT in Spanish), Air Operations Command (MOA in Spanish), Space Operations Command (MOESPA in Spanish) and Cyberspace Operations Command (MOC in Spanish) make up the Permanent Commands structure. Every day, some 850 military personnel from the Armed Forces are involved in permanent operations, which are carried out under the operational control of the Operations Command.