The OPV Audaz monitors the navigation of Russian naval units in North Africa

• The Spanish vessel operates in waters of national interest, in the Chafarinas Islands and North Africa, carrying out presence, surveillance and deterrence operations

The OPV Audaz has been monitoring Russian naval units sailing in North African waters as part of its participation in the Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations under the command of the Maritime Operational Command.

The Audaz has been tasked with locating and monitoring these Russian units, which were sailing from the Atlantic towards the eastern Mediterranean at the beginning of February.

The monitoring took place on the Mediterranean side of the Strait of Gibraltar, where surveillance and monitoring of the LSTM-31 Alexander Otrakovskiy began while it transited through waters of national interest.

The tracking of non-NATO naval units is a key activity that demonstrates the surveillance, reaction and coordination capabilities of the deployed forces, contributing decisively to the security of Spanish society.

Maritime Operational Command and Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence operations

The Maritime Operational Command is part of the operational structure of the Armed Forces. It reports to the Chief of Defence Staff and is 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, Vice Admiral Vicente Cuquerella Gamboa, and is based in Cartagena.

Integrated into the Maritime Operational Command, various Navy vessels carry out, under the operational control of the Operations Command, Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations, which are an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of areas of sovereignty and interest, increasing awareness of the maritime environment, contributing to its comprehensive protection, alongside other state institutions, and also detecting threats in advance and facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

Together with the Maritime Operations Command, the Land, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations Commands make up the Permanent Commands structure. On a daily basis, around 850 military personnel from the Armed Forces take part in permanent operations, which are carried out under the operational control of the Operations Command.