The Operations Command conducts its 'Solidarity Response' training exercise

• More than 3,000 Spanish troops could be deployed if necessary in the event of a foreign natural disaster; COPEX-21 starts to provide their training accordingly

From May 8 to 13, the Operations Command (MOPS), as well as the Component Commands (Land, Maritime, Aerospace, Cyberspace Special Operations and Emergencies) will carry out COPEX-21 exercise. The goal is to train on planning and conducting reconnaissance tasks, projection and humanitarian assistance activities, to face a foreign natural disaster. It would be operation 'Solidarity Response', for which, imore than 3,000 Spanish troops could be deployed if necessary, as soon as posible.

COPEX-21 is a joint Command Post Exercise (CPX) at operational and tactical levels, which constitutes the first training priority for the Armed Forces during 2021. To do so, a fictitious scenario has been recreated, in which an earthquake and subsequent tsunami has devastated a country, causing serious material and personal damages, for which that country’s government would request support from the Spanish government.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be the first time this exercise will be performed separately in Madrid (Pozuelo de Alarcón and Torrejón), Valencia, Rota, and Pontevedra.

Exercise Control EXCON

The Exercise Control (EXCON) is made up of personnel from Defense Joint Staff HQ, CHOD's Technical Cabinet, Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS), General Directorate for Defence Policy (DIGENPOL), Operations Command (MOPS), Joint Special Operations Command, Joint Cyberspace Command, the Military Emergency Unit, personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and the Spanish Red Cross.