The ‘Quick Lion 26’ exercise begins, certifying the Spanish contingent of the European Union’s rapid reaction force

 Units from the Canary Islands Command will operate in a simulated scenario involving conventional and hybrid threats: disinformation campaigns, cyber-attacks, insurgent movements and the protection of critical infrastructure

Army units based at the ‘San Gregorio’ National Training Centre (CENAD) in Zaragoza are conducting the ‘Quick Lion 26’ exercise, following the completion of the ‘MILEX 26’ training programme last week.

In this new exercise, the Spanish units will achieve full operational capability and national certification of the Spanish contingent, which will remain on standby as a European Union rapid reaction force or European Union Battle Group (EU BG) during the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027.

'Quick Lion 26' begins with a tactical training phase (AGT/CO), designed to complete the operational preparation of the participating units, and continues with a second evaluation and certification phase (CREVAL), during which the level of readiness achieved by the Spanish contingent will be verified.

During the exercise, the participating units will operate in a fictitious international crisis management scenario under a European Union mandate, which encompasses conventional and hybrid threats, disinformation activities, cyber-attacks, insurgent movements and the protection of critical infrastructure. This environment will enable the training of processes relating to planning, the conduct of operations, multinational coordination and decision-making.

Key objectives of ‘Quick Lion 26’ include the training and assessment of command and control procedures, the verification of the operational capability of the units forming part of the contingent, and the validation of the logistical sustainment criteria required by the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy.

Participating units

The 16th ‘Canarias’ Brigade (BRICAN XVI), part of the Army’s Canary Islands Command (MCANA), is the core unit forming the Spanish contingent, which will remain on standby as a European Union Battle Group (EUBG).In addition to the combat and combat support units of BRICAN XVI, the exercise involves various national operational trainers who complement the contingent’s capabilities.

These include a ROLE 2B unit deployed by the Medical Group (AGRUSAN), a Force Protection (FP) company, a helicopter unit from the 6th Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion (BHELMA VI), based at Los Rodeos (Tenerife), a tactical ISTAR group, provided by the General Command of Ceuta (COMGECEU), an information support unit comprising Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and Information Operations (INFOOPS) teams from the 1st Information Operations Regiment (ROI 1), an Electronic Warfare (EW) section from the 31st Electronic Warfare Regiment (REW 31), and teams from the Guardia Civil specialising in investigation, border control and intervention.