Defence Minister visits the Spanish Tactical Data Link Management Centre

• Margarita Robles was accompanied by the Chief of Defence, Admiral López Calderón, and by the Commander of the Joint Cyber Command, Vice-Admiral Javier Roca

The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, has visited the Spanish Tactical Data Link Management Centre (DLMC-ESP in Spanish), located at Torrejón Air Base and under the Joint Cyber Command (MCCE in Spanish).

The Minister was briefed on the missions of this joint body, which provides tactical data link support to national units and platforms deployed in both NATO and national operations and exercises, as well as on the implementation and development of Tactical Data Link (TDL) capability within the Armed Forces, which is a key element for operational effectiveness in current scenarios.

Robles was accompanied by the Chief of Defence (JEMAD in Spanish), Admiral Teodoro E. López Calderón. Both toured the centre’s facilities to learn about the operation of the Joint Range Extension Network (JRE-N), which enables the integration of information from national platforms into the NATO structure, ensuring an accurate picture of the tactical situation at all times.

The visit was also attended by the Commander of the Joint Cyber Command (MCCE), Vice-Admiral Javier Roca, and the Head of the Space Cyber Operations Force (FOCE in Spanish), Major General Pablo Gómez Lera. The DLMC is organically integrated into the Command’s structure, specifically within the CIS Infrastructure Operations Group (GROCIS in Spanish), which reinforces its cross-cutting role in supporting modern military operations.

Commander José Luis Martínez Leyva, head of the centre, explained the 24/7 service they provide as functional managers of critical networks. This work enables units deployed on international missions, such as the F-100 frigates or anti-aircraft artillery batteries, to receive and share tactical data essential for the defence of air and maritime space, facilitating a coordinated response to potential threats.

At the Interoperability Laboratory, work was demonstrated using the Link-16 and Link-22 standards, which are fundamental to the operation of advanced weapon systems such as the A400M aircraft, the Eurofighter, and the Patriot and NASAMS missiles. These data links enable different combat platforms to communicate with one another, sharing information from their sensors securely and automatically.

The centre also plays an active role in preparing for national and international exercises, providing the design and operational management of TDL networks. As explained during the visit, the DLMC is a joint capability that enhances synergy between the armed forces, enabling information obtained by a ground-based radar to be used immediately by a ship at sea or a fighter aircraft in flight.

The visit concluded with a presentation on the evolution of these systems towards the future combat cloud, where data management will be the cornerstone of information superiority. Minister Robles concluded by reinforcing the idea of “no link, no play” as a basic summary of her visit.