King Felipe VI has witnessed from the Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria the main annual air training exercise of the Air Force and Space Force units 'Sirio 24', accompanied by the Air Force Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Space Force, Francisco Braco; the head of the Canary Islands Air Command, Major General Francisco Javier Vidal; and the colonel in charge of the Gando Air Base and Wing 46, Bayardo Abos. It has not been an exercise exclusively of the Air Force. The Navy has participated with the frigate "Blas de Lezo", and the Army has activated two tactical subgroups of the "Canarias XVI" Brigade, two anti-aircraft defence units (one from the Canary Islands Command and another from the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command), and also personnel and resources from the "Almogávares VI" Parachute Brigade (Bripac).
Don Felipe visited the tactical area, the aircraft platform and the Alert and Control Group from where he followed one of the missions carried out in the 'Sirio 24' exercise. The 'Sirio 24' exercise, the most demanding one faced by the Air and Space Force, takes place between 22 and 30 October, with around 1.800 soldiers and 34 aircraft, including 'Eurofighter', F-18 and F-5 fighters, as well as A400M and C-295 transport aircraft. Rescue helicopters will also participate. The exercise has two main locations on land. The Gando Air Base, on the island of Gran Canaria, which is the centre of operations, and the Lanzarote Military Aerodrome, which is also a deployment base.
This exercise, the main annual training of the Air Force and Space Units, serves to instruct and evaluate combat air units, combat support units and the command and control system, in order to ensure their readiness to carry out operations, highlighting this year the presence of the Portuguese Air Force, participating with 45 personnel from the 201 and 301 squadrons, with F-16M fighters, with experience in NATO Air Policing missions.
For ten days, not only the planning, execution and supervision of air operations have been put to the test, but also tactical assistance and control through the Air Surveillance and Control System. All this to improve skills in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, personnel recovery and combat rescue, special air operations and cyber defense procedures. At the same time, air countermeasures, anti-ship warfare, logistics air transport and in-flight refueling capabilities have been trained. All this in collaboration with allied air forces to improve interoperability and joint effectiveness.
The main annual air training exercise for Air Force units has also mobilized personnel from the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC), Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA) and Second Air Deployment Support Squadron (SEADA), Aerospace Intelligence and Targeting Center (CINTAER), Space Surveillance Operations Center (COVE), Air Force Honors Squadron (EDHEA), Plus Ultra Squadron of the Royal Guard, Alert and Control Group (GRUALERCON), Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA) and Management Computing Center (CIGES).
