The OPV ‘Meteoro’ and the patrol vessels ‘Vigía’ and ‘Serviola’ contribute to collective deterrence

•  Monitoring foreign vessels is a routine task for the Armed Forces, which operate around the clock to ensure that naval activities in our waters proceed without incident

Over the past week, Navy vessels have monitored the transit of various Russian Federation units through maritime areas of national interest, as part of Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD in Spanish).

The offshore patrol vessel ‘Vigía’ set sail from its base at the Puntales Naval Station to relieve the patrol vessel ‘Serviola’ in the task of monitoring Russian vessels, which were transiting from the eastern Mediterranean towards the Atlantic, via the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. The ‘Vigía’ continued monitoring until the vessels left waters of national interest.

At the same time, the Maritime Action Vessel (BAM in Spanish) ‘Meteoro’ was deployed to locate and track another Russian vessel in the waters of the Canary Islands, where the ‘Meteoro’ carried out continuous surveillance for over 360 nautical miles along the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The commander of the BAM ‘Meteoro’, Lieutenant Commander Alejandro Fraga Pardo de Guevara, highlighted the importance of the mission. “It is a source of satisfaction for the crew to contribute to collective deterrence in the archipelago. Our work safeguards the integrity of the territory and prevents conflicts through a credible presence at sea.”

The monitoring of foreign vessels is a routine task for the Armed Forces, which operate continuously to ensure control of strategic areas. These operations, carried out in accordance with international law, reinforce surveillance in sensitive areas and demonstrate the Navy’s ability to ensure that naval activities in our waters proceed without incident.

These missions, integrated into the structure of the Maritime Operational Command (MOM in Spanish) and under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS in Spanish), guarantee maritime security and situational awareness on a permanent basis.

Maritime Operational Command and the OPVDs

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is the body within the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence (JEMAD), 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 Operations (ALMART), Vice-Admiral Vicente Cuquerella Gamboa, and is headquartered in Cartagena.

As part of 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. This enables a better understanding of the maritime environment, contributes to its comprehensive protection —in conjunction with other state institutions— and also allows for the early detection of threats and facilitates an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

Together with the MOM, the Land Operational Command (MOT), Air Operational Command (MOA), Space Operational Command (MOESPA) and Cyber Operational Command (MOC) form the structure of the Permanent Commands. On a daily basis, some 850 military personnel from the Armed Forces are involved in permanent operations, which are conducted under the operational control of the Operations Command.