Photos Spanish Military

[Nathyl]

Long post...

Pacific Skies 2024 - Deployment of French, German and Spanish Air Forces around the world, with stops in Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates before returning to Europe. The deployment includes participation in three major training exercises: Arctic Defender (Alaska, USA - 8 July to 18 July); Pitch Black (Australia - 22 July to 1 August) & Tarang Shakti (India - 7 August to 15 August).

The Spanish component named "Agrupación Plus Ultra" consists of 4 Eurofighters (two from the 11th Wing and two from the 14th Wing), 2 Airbus A-400M (from the 31st Wing) and 1 Airbus A-330 (from the 45th Group).



Spanish Eurofighters finalise preparations for departure from Los Llanos AFB (Albacete, Spain). 26th of June 2024 - Photo: Elena Iribas/Spanish Air Force.

German and Spanish Eurofighters en route to take off from the designated force assembly airfield (Nörvenich AFB, Germany) for the start of deployment in the Pacific Skies. 27th of June 2024 - Photo: Spanish Air Force.

Just arrived at Goose Bay AFB (Canada) after the Atlantic jump supported by several A-330MRTTs. 28th of June 2024 - Photo: Spanish Air Force.

In flight again with A330MRTT tanker support. Images of the transit to Alaska to participate in the Artic Defender exercise. First week of July 2024 - Photo: Spanish Air Force.

A shot of the Eurofighter C.16-68 (14-68) taken also during the transit fly. First week of July 2024 - Photo: Captain Adrián de Benito - Spanish Air Force.

Arctic Defender 24 Exercise, Eielson AFB (Alaska, USA). July 2024 - Photo: Rémi Nageant - Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace.

A few more from Arctic Defender 24... July 2024 - Photos: Spanish Air Force

Will be continued...

 

[Nathyl]

Goodbye! & Welcome!... AB-212. Fifty years of the type serving to the Spanish Navy.

Two AB-212 of the 3rd Sqn. of the FLOAN arriving NAS Rota - December 2019. Photo: CN. Luis Díaz-Bedia Astor - Spanish Navy.

Last 31st of July, the final AB-212 (HA.18) of the Spanish Navy was decommissioned. After their last deployment with the expeditionary Task Group Dedalo 2024 (April-July 2024) a well-deserved farewell after a long career (1974-2024). First serving as embarked ASW helicopters, and later mainly as assault, support and SAR helicopters for the Spanish Marine Infantry.

Once the Navy's operations with AB212 have been completed, the 3rd Squadron of the Flotilla de Aeronaves (FLOAN) will be disbanded. All personnel will be transferred to the newly formed 14th Squadron, which will be equipped with the new NH-90MSPT (the first one already being tested by Airbus Helicopters España at its Albacete factory).

The Navy's entire AB-212 fleet was heavily modernised to extend their service life atleast 15 years, by SENER and INAER between 2014-2018. All helos received a new radar for maritime surveillance and meteorology, an EO/IR surveillance system, an AIS transceiver for naval reconnaissance and a GPS navigation system with moving map display incorporated into a tactical mission computer (MTC) with new EFIS screens installed, upgraded GVN (Night Vision Goggles) compatibilisation, a new cargo and personnel crane for rescue, a missile detection system (MAWS), ballistic protection in the flight and passenger cabin, armoured and anti-crash seats for the crew, new certified weapon stations for the Dillon M134D...

All AB-212s will now be transferred to the Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion VI (BHELMA VI) based in Los Rodeos Airfield (St. Cristóbal de la Laguna - Tenerife, Canary Islands). This unit of the Army Airmobile Forces (FAMET) has been equipped with all the surviving B-212s of the Army for many years, which will now be joined by the seven AB-212s to be received from the Navy.

So... A goodbye from the Navy and a welcome from the Army.


One of the last public sightings of the AB-212 in service with the Spanish Navy. Photo taken during the Armed Forces Day 2024.
Gijón - 24th of May 2024. Photo: David Álvarez López.

 

[Nathyl]

Launch of a TOW-2B guided anti-tank missile from a VAMTAC S3 AT variant belonging to the 54th Regulares Group (Tabor I/54, based in Ceuta). Photo taken during Exercise Teniente Aizpurúa 2023 at the Chinchilla's National Training Center (Albacete, Spain). March 2023. Photo: Spanish Army.

 

[Nathyl]

One of the last Aviocars in service, the T.12B-71 (72-71), still flying for the 72nd Wing (in support of the Military Parachute School) based at Alcantarilla AFB (Murcia).
The aircraft display the commemorative livery for the 1.5 million parachute jumps from the Aviocars of the Spanish Air Force. Pic taken during Gijón Air Festival 2024 - 28th of July 2024. Photo: Martín J. Gallego.

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[Nathyl]

Special Ops never are risk free...

MedEvac of an injured Spanish Operator. Special Ops Command detachtment Iraq. Operation "Support to Iraq". Baghdad Province (Iraq)- 10th of November 2022. Photo: Spanish Army.

Spanish Northrop SF-5B(M) still soldiering on, training Spanish Air Force pilots after 55 years of service... Photo taken after take off from Torrejón AFB (Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid) - Spanish National Day - 12th of October 2023. Photo: José Luis Celada Euba.

Its replacement is now in the works, contendents are the Boeing T-7, KAI T-50, Leonardo M-346 (favorite of the Spanish Air Force) and the TAI Hurjet (favorite of the Spanish Government).

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[Unknowncommando]

Indian Navy Ship INS Tabar, on completion of visit to Málaga, Spain conducted Maritime Partnership Exercise with Spanish Navy Ship Atalaya in the Mediterranean Sea. Station Keeping, RASAPs, FLYEX & PHOTOEX conducted with an aim to imbibe best practices & enhance interoperability.

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]

 

[blackbleopard20]