Spanish military launches joint operation in southern peninsula

The Spanish Armed Forces have launched a joint operation, titled ‘Eagle Eye 26-03’, to enhance surveillance, presence, and deterrence in the southern region of the Iberian Peninsula. The operation involves the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, focusing on the Alboran Sea and the Málaga Air Base.

As part of the deployment, six F-18 aircraft from Wing 15 will be stationed at the Málaga Air Base to provide Rapid Reaction Alert services, capable of being airborne within 15 minutes of detecting an unidentified trace. The operation also includes air surveillance coordinated by the Central Command and Control Group (GRUCEMAC) using data from various air, land, and naval assets.

This military activity follows a period of reinforced presence in the south, including the deployment of the Navy patrol vessel Río Guadiana to the Chafarinas Islands. These movements occur alongside exercises such as ‘Atlante 26’ in the Gulf of Cádiz, which involved Eurofighter and F/A-18 jets performing air-to-air and anti-drone missions with live ammunition.