Active Fence III

On 11 December 2015 the Council of Ministers agreed to extend the participation of Spanish military units and observers in operations abroad until 31 December 2016. The decision included the deployment of up to 150 personnel in Turkey as part of Operation Active Fence.

The present contingent comes mainly from Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command (especially the 81st AAA Regiment, with reinforcements from the 71st AAA Regiment and AAA Command’s Signals Unit), although it will also have support from other Armed Forces units when needed. It has been deployed in the area since 17 January 2016, when its first troops arrived. The actual handover of command took place on 21 January, and since that date the third Spanish contingent to be deployed at Incirlik Air Base has been fully operational.

The Battery is currently integrated into the Ballistic Missile Defence Operations Centre (BMDOC) at HQ AIRCOM, in Ramstein, through the Battalion Operations Centre (BOC). The current integration method is procedural control, but positive integration through Integrated Command and Control will be possible as soon as remote data integration equipment is acquired.

Spain’s involvement in the operation shows its support to Turkey and its commitment to the values of collective security, solidarity and shared responsibility. It also underlines its willingness to engage with NATO initiatives aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region.