His Majesty King Felipe VI visits the Centre of Excellence against Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED COE).

• Felipe VI visited the facilities of the Centre of Excellence to learn about the multi-domain work carried out by this NATO accredited centre, which depends on the Defence Staff.

His Majesty the King visited the Centre of Excellence against Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED COE), located within the facilities of the Engineering Academy Barracks in Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid. 

This visit represents an important milestone in the history of this NATO-accredited centre and reflects Spain's ongoing commitment to the Alliance, international security and the fight against terrorism. 

Felipe VI, who had already visited the centre in 2012 when he still held the title of His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, was received on his arrival by the Admiral , Chief of Defence, Teodoro E. López Calderón, Colonel Juan Pedro Moral Albaladejo, Head of the 'Academia de Ingenieros' Barracks and Javier Corbacho Margallo, Colonel and Director of the Centre, and by representatives of the twelve nations that form part of it. 

After the honours of ordinance, His Majesty received a presentation about the activities and global impact of the C-IED COE. The presentation highlighted the Centre's contribution to NATO's mission of enhancing international security through specialisation in prevention and response to improvised explosive devices. 

Since its creation in 2010, the C-IED COE has emerged as a leading institution in the fight against improvised explosive devices, a significant element in NATO and allied nations' defence and security strategy. Employing personnel of twelve nationalities, the C-IED COE is dedicated to improving the interoperability and capabilities of allied forces, assessing and developing doctrines and validating concepts through experimentation, all in the field of C-IED combat. 

Its organisational structure includes specialised groups in Attack the Networks (AtN), Defeat the Device (DtD) and Prepare the Force (PTF), reflecting the pillars of NATO Doctrine. Looking to the future, the C-IED COE strives to be the global reference centre on C-IED related issues, integrating capabilities across all operational domains, including cognitive and cyber, with the aim of responding to increasingly complex threats. Future challenges include improving the centre's international visibility and the expansion of its network of sponsoring countries. 

Events and Demonstrations 

During the visit, Felipe VI witnessed several demonstrations including tactics for analysing explosive devices and emerging technologies in the fight against IEDs. These specific demonstrations illustrated the practical application of the technologies and techniques developed and perfected at the C-IED COE:

DEMO 1 Wepons Intelligence Team (WIT):Outdoor demonstration, where tactics of technical exploitation of IED incidents were shown, conducted with the "Walkthrough IED" team. 

DEMO 2 Attack The Network (AtN): During this session, it was shown how analyses are conducted to advise on the options to be employed in order to influence and/or neutralise terrorist networks that use IEDs as a means of attack. 

DEMO 3 Laboratorio Contra Artefactos Explosivos Improvisados (C-IED): At the centre's laboratory, new technologies and the centre's R+D projects were showcased, including 3D printing, used to simulate and study IED devices in controlled environments.

DEMO 4 Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX):Focused on the forensic analysis and exploitation of electronic devices - mobiles, electronic media, aerial and aquatic drones and related items - captured in IED incidents in order to obtain critical intelligence. 

During the demonstrations, the King had the chance to talk with members of the Centre's international staff about their roles and experiences, signed the book of honour and was photographed alongside its staff. The C-IED COE continues its vital mission of saving lives and enhancing global security, strengthening ties between NATO and the international community, and receiving Spain's continued support. 

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

The Centre of Excellence against Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED COE) is one of the 29 NATO Accredited Centres of Excellence, and is located in Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid. It has an international staff composed of military personnel belonging to twelve nationalities, including members of the Spanish Armed Forces who, along with members of other military and civilian agencies, serve both in the international expert staff as well as in its support and administration element.

Its mission is to provide support from experts to NATO, to NATO partners and to the International Community in the fight against the IED System in order to increase the security of deployed troops by reducing or eliminating the IED threat, especially from terrorist and insurgent networks and from any emerging threats resulting as a result of the fast-evolving global scenarios. 

The C-IED COE was offered by Spain to NATO as part of its network of Centres of Excellence and was initially accredited by the Alliance in November 2010. In April 2023, it underwent a new accreditation process, with a result that was "extremely satisfactory" to the Alliance's interests.