Operation Eagle Eye 25-03 begins in the Canary Islands and the Atlantic Ocean to ensure national air defence

• This activation is integrated with other operational activities carried out by the various operational commands to strengthen surveillance and establish synergies in areas of national interest.

 From 15 to 18 September, the Canary Islands will host the Eagle Eye 25-03 activation, led by the Air Operations Command and under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS). The objective of the Eagle Eye activation is to integrate the capabilities of the Air and Space Force, the Army and the Navy into the national air defence system, in order to improve efficiency in the development of presence, surveillance and deterrence operations.

On this occasion, the Eagle Eye activation will coincide with other operational activities carried out by the various Operational Commands, known as Sinergia 25, which will take place from 15 to 21 September. In this context, the various units of the Armed Forces that permanently conduct Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations will reinforce surveillance in areas of national interest, with the execution of synchronised and coordinated operations by the Operations Command.

In this edition of Eagle Eye—the third one in 2025—the Air and Space Force is participating with six F-18s from Wing 12, deployed at the Torrejón de Ardoz base in Madrid, with Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions, which are alert services that ensure the ability to be airborne in less than 15 minutes from the detection of an unidentified trace. To this end, Wing 12 will deploy up to 60 military personnel—including crews and maintenance and support staff—to Gando Air Base. “The entire unit is excited and ambitious about the challenge of ensuring Spain's air security and defence,” says Commander Miguel Jiménez Barragán of Wing 12. “Without hesitation, this is a great opportunity for the integration of F18 jet fighters with other land and naval assets in the Canary Islands.”

In addition, this deployment will integrate small Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS LSS) resources with the participation of resources from the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA), the Army, the Navy and the State Security Forces. Likewise, the Alert and Control Group (GRUALERCON), located at Gando Air Base, will be responsible for monitoring the airspace with data provided by Air Surveillance Squadrons, as well as land and naval assets.

Finally, the Air Operations Centre (AOC) located at Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base will exercise command and control during this activation, while also being responsible for tactical control of surveillance operations, air policing and the defence of national airspace.

Regarding the Army, it will deploy the III-73 Anti-Aircraft Defence Unit (UDAA) in the vicinity of Gando Air Base to provide anti-aircraft defence, thus complementing airspace surveillance. In this joint operation, the UDAA Cancerbero counts on the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command (MAAA) and is led by the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (GAAA) III/73 (Marines-Valencia). It is made up of HAWK, PATRIOT and MISTRAL anti-aircraft weapon systems and 35/90 cannons, and will be responsible for complementing airspace surveillance through its sensors and protecting the areas entrusted to it with its ground weapon systems against any air threat, all integrated into the Air Defence System (SDA).

The Navy in turn will deploy the frigate Cristóbal Colón F-105 in the Atlantic as part of the air defence system, significantly contributing with additional surveillance and anti-aircraft defence capabilities. This ship is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and is prepared to carry out a wide variety of missions, from air defence to anti-submarine warfare. As the commander of the Cristóbal Colón, Commander Gabriel Pita da Veiga Subirats, points out, “Eagle Eye is an opportunity to advance interoperability with the rest of the Armed Forces. In addition, these integrations allow us to increase mutual knowledge and trust in order to respond together to the most demanding situations.”

Sinergia 25 and national defence

In addition to the activation of Eagle Eye 25-03, Sinergia 25 will be an excellent opportunity to perform other actions specific to the various Land, Maritime, Air, Cyberspace and Space Operational Commands (MOT, MOM, MOA, MOC and MOESPA, respectively). On land, units will be deployed in Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands with surveillance and presence missions in areas of sovereignty and interest. For its part, the MOM—with the activation of Joint Shield—will deploy OPV Tornado in the Canary Islands and OPV Centinela in the Strait of Gibraltar, as well as the Coastal Artillery Unit (UDACTA) in the Campo de Gibraltar area.

In this context of comprehensive defence, the MOC will be dedicated to monitoring the networks in its environment, while MOESPA will provide products related to GPS accuracy and satellite overflight for the benefit of the other operational commands and MOPS.

These activations of the Armed Forces reflect the fundamental values of the Armed Forces—teamwork, dedication and spirit of service—but above all, their unwavering commitment to the defence and security of Spain.