Delegates from the DV11 Event visit the ‘Canarias’ XVI brigade

•  They were shown the Castor combat sappers vehicle, which has been fully incorporated into the Armed Forces over the last year and is 100% Spanish in design and manufacture

Delegates from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), participating in the 2011 Vienna Document Event, “DV11 Event”, visited the “Canarias” XVI Brigade today, where they were presented with the Castor combat sappers vehicle (VCZ).

The presentation of the VCZ Castor is one of the main activities of this event, as the Vienna Document stipulates that the organising State must demonstrate a new type of weapon system and equipment to representatives of other countries after having begun deployment.

On the other hand, during the tour, the 16th “Canarias” Brigade demonstrated her capabilities in the fight against improvised explosive devices (C-IED) and carried out flight practices with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The delegates also saw the canine team in action and learned about the capabilities and resources of the Air Defence Unit of the 94th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (RAAA 94).  This was followed by a precision shooting exercise.

Finally, they visited the maintenance area, where they were shown the logistical capabilities, as well as the accommodation area.

The visit to the 16th “Canarias” Brigade also included an informative session on the Army and on the situation, history, evolution, structure, operational organisation, missions, capabilities, resources and armament of the brigade. In addition, information was provided on the training and instruction activities that normally take place at her facilities.

Likewise, Delegates were given the opportunity to communicate with officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, including support and logistics units.

At the end of the visit, a meeting was held in which the delegates assessed the visit and presented their impressions.

VCZ Castor

The Castor is a multi-mission vehicle whose units have been fully incorporated into the Spanish Armed Forces over the last year. It is 100% Spanish in design and manufacture. It is intended for use in sapper and engineer unit missions and represents a major technological advance, offering increased protection, working capacity and mobility for missions both at home and abroad.

‘DV11 Event’

The 2011 Vienna Document Event, ‘VD11 Event’, is organised by the Spanish Verification Unit (UVE). Representatives from 24 countries of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are attending.

The main activities of this event, which is being held this week in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, are a visit to Gando Air Base today and a visit to the 16th “Canarias” Brigade tomorrow.

Each OSCE nation that is a signatory to the 2011 Vienna Document Treaty, DV11 Treaty, organises an event of this type every five years on its territory. This is the first time it has taken place in the Canary Islands, and the islands' main military authorities are in attendance.

Specifically, the countries participating in “Event DV11” are Albania, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. In addition, a representative from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre is also present.

This initiative fulfils one of the commitments adopted through the Vienna Document 2011 (VD11), which was signed by 57 OSCE member states and stipulates that participants must organise, at least once every five years, a VD11 event consisting of a visit to an air base and a military facility. These activities are intended to promote confidence- and security-building measures in Europe.

16th ‘Canarias’ Brigade

The first military units in the Canary Islands were militias, which defended the archipelago between the 16th and 19th centuries. After various changes throughout history, the current organisation was established on 1 July 2015, when the name was changed to the 16th “Canarias” Brigade.

More recently, units from the Canary Islands have been deployed to the Sahara, Bosnia and Kosovo. As BRICAN, it has participated in Operation R/A in Afghanistan; the EUTM-Mali mission; Operation Libre Hidalgo in Lebanon; and Operation Inherent Resolve VII in Iraq.

At the national field, they have been part of Operation Balmis and Operation Mission Baluarte, fighting COVID-19;  Operation Centinela Tinerfeño, preventing fires; in the evacuation and sheltering of those affected by the eruption of the volcano on La Palma in 2021; and in Operation Valencia, providing assistance to those affected by the DANA in 2024.