The frigate Mendez Núñez reinforces National Air Defence System in Eagle Eye 26-1 activation

•  For five days, the frigate conducts surveillance and deterrence operations alongside land units and fighter aircraft
  

The frigate F-104 Méndez Núñez will be integrated into the Air Defence System to participate in the Eagle Eye 26-1 activation, a presence, surveillance and deterrence operation conducted under the control of the Operations Command.

It contributes to air threat detection and response missions, complementing the capabilities of the Air Force Surveillance Squadrons and the Army's Air Defence Units

Under the command of Commander Jaime Muñoz-Delgado Pérez, it has a crew of around 200 sailors. This is its fourth integration into the Air Defence System, under air operational command. ‘Thanks to the sensors and weapons integrated into the AEGIS combat system, we can provide the National Air Defence with a high capacity for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence,’ points out the commander.

These Eagle Eye activations are carried out periodically in different areas of the national territory. Their main objective is to strengthen the integration and coordination of air, land and naval resources, for which it is essential to have common command and control procedures, always within the framework of the National Air Defence System. This optimises the joint response to possible threats from the airspace and thus guarantees the security of the territory and the population.

The frigate Mendez Nuñez, an intense operational activity

Just a few months ago, the Mendez Nuñez, the fourth of the five ships that make up the 31st Surface Squadron based in Ferrol, concluded its journey through Indo-Pacific waters. Between April and October 2025, the frigate participated in the HIGHMAST deployment, as part of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales's Combat Group. During this period, it demonstrated the Spanish Navy's projection capabilities and its interoperability with allied forces in highly demanding scenarios.

The Eagle Eye exercise provides an opportunity to contribute these capabilities to the joint force, this time exclusively at the national level.