The Armed Forces and the State Security Forces are testing joint tactics, techniques and procedures against drones in the ‘Atlas 26’ exercise

• This exercise will take place at the Médano del Loro Training and Firing Range (Huelva) from 19 to 23 October and will be attended by companies and universities

Next Monday, 19 October, various units from the Army, the Navy and the Air and Space Force, together with units from the Civil Guard (GC) and the National Police Force (CNP), will be deployed and integrated under a single command for the ‘Atlas 26’ exercise. The aim is to respond effectively to a multi-layered aerial threat and, in particular, to counter drones.

The exercise, led by the Chief of the Defence (JEMAD), is organised by the Manoeuvre Support Command (MAM) and directed by the Army’s Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command.

The aim of this exercise is to validate the joint tactics, techniques and procedures for dealing comprehensively with the emerging threats posed by Class I and II UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems).

To this end, scenarios involving high operational demands will be simulated, assessing the defensive response both within the framework of the permanent Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations on national territory, and in scenarios involving deployment to an Operations Zone as part of multinational architectures and IAMD (Integrated Air and Missile Defence; Integrated Air and Missile Defence System) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The command, control, interoperability and integration capabilities of the Armed Forces (FAS) and the State Security Forces and Corps (FCSE), facilitated by 5G within the Air and Space Force’s Air Defence System, will enable the necessary cross-functional coordination and synchronisation of all deployed weapon systems, so that the destructive effects (‘hard kill’) of guided and unguided munitions, and neutralisation (‘soft kill’) through electronic warfare, can successfully neutralise the threat.

This exercise also serves as a platform for collaboration with national companies, universities and the Armed Forces’ experimental centres to continue driving innovation and technological development (R&D) in air defence capabilities against drones. The presence of observers from universities and the Training and Doctrine Command (MADOC) enables the identification of lessons learnt and conclusions that will continue to inform the doctrinal framework governing the use of all the Army’s weapon systems.

The ‘Atlas 26’ exercise is the result of a major coordination and organisational effort by the MAM, bringing together the FAS and FCSE to ensure they are in a position to respond swiftly and effectively to any aerial threat that jeopardises national sovereignty or the protection of our forces deployed abroad.