Working meeting between CAOC Torrejón and NATO Ground Surveillance Force

• CAOC Torrejón is in charge of the Tactical Control (TACON) of the mission performed by NAGSF

Staff from NATO Ground Surveillance Force (NAGSF), based at Sigonella Air Base (Italy), held a working meeting with specialists from several branches of Combined Air Operations Centre-Torrejón (CAOC TJ) on November 3 and 4.

The delegation, headed by the Italian Air Force colonel, Stefano Bianca, NAGSF Deputy Commander was welcomed by CAOC-TJ Commander, lieutenant general Fernando de la Cruz, with whom he discussed the main topics of the visit.

The purpose of the visit was to improve procedures and coordination between the units and sections of both agencies, in order to optimize the exploitation of the products developed by the NAGSF in the field of operational intelligence. Thus, experts from the different areas have addressed at bilateral level issues such as the capabilities of the platform operated by the NAGSF (RQ-4 Global Hawk), sensors, the tactical use of platform and sensors, procedures for action in case of emergency, etc.

In the framework of the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) declaration of the Force, CAOC Torrejón is in charge of the Tactical Control (TACON) of the mission performed by this Unit during the operation of the platform in its area of responsibility.

Combined Air Operations Centre-Torrejón

The main mission of CAOC-Torrejón, under the direct command of a Spanish Air Force lieutenant general, is to plan, direct, coordinate, supervise, analyse and report on air defence operations in Southern Europe, following the directives of NATO´s Air Component.

The Spanish Armed Forces make an important contribution to the mission carried out by this centre. Some 120 Spanish military personnel serve in the CAOC as well as in the National Support Element (NSE) and the NATO Communications and Information Agency Unit (NCIA).