If you live in the south-southeast of Spain, you may have noticed more military activity recently. That’s because the Spanish Armed Forces are conducting large-scale military exercises known as Eagle Eye 25-01 this week. Around 500 military personnel are taking part in drills across the Alboran Sea and southeastern Spain, working together to strengthen national air defense. At the same time, around 3,000 other military members continue their daily airspace monitoring duties.

Training for Rapid Response

These exercises simulate real-life scenarios, such as unauthorized aircraft entering Spanish airspace or failing to respond to communication attempts. The goal is to improve surveillance and defense capabilities, ensuring a fast and effective response to potential threats. The operation ‘Eagle Eye‘ has been described as a routine defense measure held in different parts of Spain throughout the year.

More Forces Involved This Year

This edition of Eagle Eye is bigger than previous ones, with extra Army and Navy units joining the drills. The Tactical Group from Ceuta and Melilla is participating, as well as the Dédalo Expeditionary Combat Group, which was returning from the Eastern Mediterranean and joined on its way back to the Naval Base in Rota.

The Dédalo Group includes the Juan Carlos I aircraft carrier, the frigates Blas de Lezo and Victoria, as well as other naval and air units. The Canarias frigate and Galerna submarine, both involved in NATO’s Sea Guardian mission, are also taking part in maritime surveillance from their base in Cartagena.

High-Tech Air and Missile Defense

For the air operations, Eurofighter C16 jets from Morón Air Base (Sevilla) have been temporarily stationed at San Javier Air Base (Murcia). Advanced missile defense systems, including HAWK, Patriot, and Mistral anti-aircraft systems, are also being used in the drills.

While these exercises may seem extensive, officials stress that they are not related to any current global conflicts. Instead, they are part of Spain’s ongoing efforts to maintain a strong and prepared defense system, ready to respond to any potential threats.

Have You Noticed Military Activity in Your Area?

While officials emphasize that these drills are routine, their scale and timing may raise questions, especially given ongoing global tensions. Have you seen increased military activity in your area? Whether it’s aircraft overhead or naval movements along the coast, let us know what you’ve observed in the comments…

Main image: x/@EMADmde