The Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón celebrates Spain Day

 The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the Defence, Admiral Teodoro Esteban López Calderón

The Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón (CAOC-T) celebrated National Day with a ceremony presided over by the Chief of the Defence (JEMAD), Admiral Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, which consisted of the raising of the national flag and the presentation of decorations to military and civilian personnel at the CAOC.

On his arrival, the Chief of the General was received by the Commanding Officer of CAOC Torrejón, Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sánchez de Lara, who, prior to the ceremony, briefed him on the latest changes and developments taking place within NATO’s Air Component (AIRCOM), which serves as the headquarters to which CAOC Torrejón reports.

During his speech, Admiral López Calderón took the opportunity to congratulate the CAOC staff on their excellent work, carried out with great responsibility and skill, as an example of the steadfast commitment of the Allied nations within NATO

For his part, General Sánchez de Lara highlighted Spain’s active participation in the Integrated Air Defence system, which currently has a presence in Romania comprising air defence aircraft, refuelling aircraft, helicopters and a surveillance radar. Spain is a proactive, professional and reliable ally, and the Spanish personnel at the CAOC are a fine example of camaraderie and team spirit.

At present, representatives from 18 nations participate in the CAOCT, which is an essential pillar in the defence of the values that NATO stands for: ensuring, in a spirit of solidarity and unity, the defence and security of our nations within the Alliance, alongside the other members of the Euro-Atlantic area.

The CAOCT is one of the command centres forming part of the Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (IAMDS), whose main mission is to plan, direct, coordinate, supervise, analyse and report on air defence operations in Southern Europe, in accordance with the directives of the NATO Air Component Command, to which it reports, and using the resources that member nations allocate to NATO in peacetime. 

The Spanish Armed Forces make a significant contribution to the mission carried out by this centre. Around 120 Spanish military personnel are serving both at the CAOC itself and within the National Support Element (NSE) and the NATO Communications and Information Agency Unit (NCIA).