Spanish military conducts Atlas 26 drone defense exercises

The Spanish Armed Forces are conducting the “Atlas 26” military exercise at the Médano del Loro training ground in Huelva from October 19 to 23. The maneuvers focus on developing effective responses to multi-layered aerial threats, specifically targeting Class I and II drones.

The exercise involves a unified command structure comprising units from the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, alongside the Civil Guard and National Police. Participants are testing tactics to detect, coordinate, and neutralize unmanned aerial systems through both physical destruction via munitions and electronic neutralization using electronic warfare systems.

Technological integration is a key component, utilizing 5G technology to coordinate command and control systems. The exercise also serves as a collaborative platform involving national companies, universities, and military experimentation centers to drive research and development in anti-drone defense capabilities. Scenarios range from protecting national territory to potential deployments within NATO air defense systems.