Army of Spain: composition, leadership. Spanish Armed Forces

Towards North Africa the armed forces of the two states in the Pyrenees may suddenly find themselves on the front line
Spain is one of the largest European countries- members of NATO and the EU. Accordingly, its armed forces (AF) are also among the largest in the region. Spain has a fairly developed military-industrial complex, capable of producing military equipment of almost all classes according to its own projects or under foreign licenses.

At the same time, the country was not bypassed by the general trend of reducing military potential, aggravated by the difficult economic situation and deep rear geographic location Spain.

Spanish Armed Forces

The ground forces have a rather complex organizational structure and include several branches of the military. The heavy forces include a cavalry brigade, two motorized infantry brigades, and an armored infantry brigade. The light forces include the Airmobile Brigade, Light Infantry Brigade, Spanish Legion Brigade, Mountain Command, Parachute Brigade. The support forces include a communications brigade, field artillery, air defense, army aviation, engineering troops, and special operations commands.

In addition to these forces stationed in the main territory of the country, there are regional forces. These are the garrisons of the African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla (each with one armored cavalry, Spanish Legion, light infantry, artillery, engineer regiment), command Balearic Islands(light infantry regiment), command military zone canary islands(light infantry brigade, air defense regiment).

The tank fleet includes 327 modern German Leopard-2s (219 A5E, 108 A4) and 73 old American M60A3TTS, which are gradually decommissioned.

In addition to the tanks are 84 Italian combat vehicles with heavy weapons (BMTV) B-1 "Centauro" with a 105-mm gun, there are also 209 combat reconnaissance vehicles (BRM) VEC-3562. 356 of the latest Spanish-Austrian-designed Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles are in service, as well as more than two thousand armored personnel carriers - 1313 American M113, 90 Swedish Bv206S, 672 domestic BMR-600 / M1, 185 Italian LMV, 100 South African RG-31.

The artillery is armed with 227 American M109A5 self-propelled guns (155 mm), more than 300 towed guns, about 1.5 thousand mortars, 14 domestic Teruel MLRS (140 mm).

The troops have 236 of the latest Israeli Spike-LR anti-tank systems, 448 of the old French Milan (including 113 self-propelled), 200 American Tou (including 74 self-propelled).

Ground air defense includes one battery of the American Patriot air defense system (8 launchers) and seven batteries of the Improved Hawk air defense system (42 launchers), 39 short-range air defense systems (13 Italian Skygard-Aspid, 18 French Roland, eight Norwegian NASAMS) , 180 French Mistral MANPADS, 91 Swiss anti-aircraft guns GDF-005 (35 mm).

The army aviation is armed with six latest Franco-German Tiger combat helicopters (there will be 12) and 49 German Vo-105s, as well as more than 100 multi-purpose and transport helicopters.

Combat helicopter "Tiger". Photo: Francois Mori / AP

The Air Force includes three air commands: Combat, General Purpose, Canary Islands. There are 43 latest European Typhoon fighters in service (including 10 combat training; there will be 87 in total) and 87 American F-18s (75 A, 12 combat training B). In addition, there are 19 old American SF-5M combat training aircraft (based on the F-5 fighter). In storage are 40 old French Mirage-F1 fighters, 27 very old American F-4C fighters and nine RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft.

Combat aircraft also include basic patrol aircraft - four American P-3s, 11 own CN-235MRAs.

Five American KS-130N tankers and four Falcon-20 electronic warfare aircraft are in service. There are more than 100 transport, 110 training aircraft, about 50 transport helicopters.

The Spanish Navy has three Galerna-class submarines (French Agosta-class, one more has been withdrawn from the fleet and serves as a source of spare parts for the rest). To replace them, four submarines of the S80 type (French Murena type) are being built.

The only aircraft carrier "Prince of Asturias" was withdrawn from the Navy due to lack of funds and, apparently, will be sold abroad. Therefore, the basis of the surface forces are frigates. It's five newest ships type "Alvaro de Bazan", six types of "Santa Maria" (similar to the American "Oliver Perry"), four types of "Descubierta" (the latter are sometimes classified as corvettes).

There are 17 patrol ships and boats, six minesweepers, one minesweeper control ship (a former Descubierta-class frigate). The landing forces include the Juan Carlos UDC and two Galicia-type DTDs.

Aircraft carrier "Prince of Asturias".

All ships, boats and submarines of the Spanish Navy, including foreign projects, are built in Spain itself.

Naval aviation is armed with 17 fighters with vertical takeoff and landing AV-8В "Harrier" (including one combat trainer). After the withdrawal of the only aircraft carrier from the fleet, their fate is unclear. There are also four transport aircraft, 17 anti-submarine helicopters (12 SH-60V, 5 SH-3Н), three SN-3Н AWACS helicopters, 17 multipurpose and transport helicopters.

The Marine Corps consists of one brigade. It is armed with 17 M60A3TTS tanks, 39 Swiss Piran armored personnel carriers and 19 American AAV-7A1, six M109A2 self-propelled guns, 12 towed guns 12 M-56, 24 Tou anti-tank systems.

There are no foreign troops in Spain, but the US Air Force and Navy regularly use military air base Moron and Naval Base Rota.

Armed Forces of Portugal

Another country Iberian Peninsula, Portugal, traditionally had an army that was insignificant in its potential. For the period after the end cold war it, paradoxically, somewhat intensified due to the supply of used equipment from the USA, Great Britain and Holland and the purchase of new Austrian armored personnel carriers and German submarines. Thus, the country went against the general NATO trend of a significant reduction in the Armed Forces. However, the Portuguese army still remained very small. The Portuguese military-industrial complex is also purely symbolic.

The ground forces include a mechanized, airmobile, light infantry (expeditionary) brigades, an army aviation group, a military zone command of Madeira Island (two infantry regiments), a military zone command Azores(one garrison infantry regiment). There are also three cavalry, three artillery, seven infantry, two engineer regiments, which are not combat units, but training structures.

The tank fleet includes 37 modern German "Leopard-2A6" (obtained from Holland), as well as 187 old American vehicles - 101 M60A3 / 4, 86 M48A5.

It is armed with 90 armored personnel carriers (15 own V-150s, 38 French M-11s, 37 Austrian Pandours, including 33 BMTVs with a 105-mm cannon) and 500 armored personnel carriers (277 American M113s, 81 own V-200s, 142 Austrian "Pandur", including 30 with a 30-mm gun).

Artillery includes 23 American M109 self-propelled guns, 158 towed guns, 334 mortars.

There are 197 anti-tank systems - 87 "Milan" (including six on the M-11 BRM), 110 "Tou" (including 22 on the M113 armored personnel carrier, 15 on the Pandur armored personnel carrier).

Military air defense includes 37 American Chaparel short-range air defense systems, 45 American Stinger MANPADS, 34 American M163 ZSU (20 mm), 92 anti-aircraft guns - 30 German Rh202 (20 mm), 62 Swiss L-60 (40 mm) .

The BBC is armed with 30 American F-16 fighters (26 A, 4 B; another seven A and two B are being prepared for sale to Romania). In addition, Alpha Jet combat training aircraft (nine in service, another 33 in storage) can be used as light attack aircraft. Also, 12 base patrol aircraft can be classified as combat aircraft - five American P-3Cs (another 4 P-3Rs are in storage), seven Spanish C-295Ms.

The Air Force has 14 transport aircraft(six American C-130N and three Falcon-50, five Spanish C-295M) and 22 training aircraft, 19 multi-purpose and transport helicopters.

The Navy has two of the latest German submarines, Project 214, two modern frigates of the Bartolomeu Dias type (Dutch Karel Doorman type) and three Vasco da Gama types (German MEKO2000 type), as well as six older frigates of its own builds sometimes classified as corvettes - four "João Coutinho" types, two "Baptista de Andrade" types (another one in reserve). Quite modern are two patrol ships of the Viana do Castelo type. There are 15 patrol boats and a small landing ship of the "Bombard" type.

Naval aviation consists of five British helicopters "Lynx" Mk95.

The Marine Corps includes two battalions and a special forces group. There are 15 Pandur armored personnel carriers and 32 120-mm mortars in service.

There are no foreign troops on the territory of Portugal, although the United States regularly uses the airfield in the Azores for its own purposes.

Are Spain and Portugal ready for chaos in North Africa?

The current military potential of the two countries deep behind NATO lines is more than enough for limited participation in collective overseas operations, and the alliance is not doing anything else and is not going to do anything else. However, in the deep rear they are in relation to Russia, the war with which belongs to the realm of fantasy.

But in relation to North Africa, Spain and Portugal may suddenly find themselves at the forefront. Now this also looks like fantasy or nonsense, but it is not a fact that the situation will not change in the foreseeable future. For Arab countries there is always the threat of chaos or radical Islamization, both of which will most directly and directly affect the security of their neighbors.

But even without such dramatic scenarios, the military balance in the region is rapidly changing. The ground forces of Morocco or Algeria (individually) are already stronger today than the ground forces of Spain and Portugal combined. If current trends continue, a similar situation will soon develop with respect to the Air Force. Of course, it is difficult to expect a “reverse Reconquista” from the Arabs, but after a while they will finally stop looking up at the Europeans. Because they have more and more reasons to look down.

The armed forces of Spain consist of ground forces, naval and air forces. The commander-in-chief of the Spanish army is King Philip VI, the minister of defense is Pedro Morenes. The total strength of the Spanish Armed Forces is 123,200 people. / Reuters

The land forces of Spain are one of the oldest formations in the world, dating back to the 15th century. The headquarters of the troops is located in Madrid, in the Buenavista Palace. The number of infantrymen is 78,121 people. / Reuters

The SV is armed with Leopard, M60AZ, M48A5E and AMXZO tanks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles M113A1 Pisarro and BMR-600. Artillery armament represented by Teruel systems and self-propelled howitzers M108, M109A5, Ml 10A2. / Flickr / Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Republic of Poland Ejército del Aire Ministerio de Defens

Ground Forces consist of Combat Forces (BS) and Support Forces (SO). BS include 2 divisions, airmobile forces and 6 commands. The SO includes the main inspection of the SV, as well as the command of combat training and transport support. / Reuters

The Spanish Air Force was created in March 1911. Their headquarters is in Madrid. The Spanish Air Force has 15 air bases at its disposal. / Flickr / Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of PolandEjército del Aire Ministerio de Defens

The Spanish Air Force has about 20,400 military and 7,500 civilian employees. The combat strength of the air force includes 169 combat aircraft, 102 training and 100 transport, passenger and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as 43 helicopters. / Reuters

The Spanish Navy includes the navy, naval aviation, marines, special forces units and subunits. /armada.mde.es

The ship structure of the Spanish Navy includes 3 submarines, 6 frigates, 5 destroyers, 14 landing craft, 3 landing ships and 2 support vessels. The Coast Guard force includes 23 warships and 29 support vessels. /armada.mde.es

The forces of the Spanish Navy are organizationally divided into 4 areas of responsibility: the Cantabrian zone, the zone of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean zone and the zone of the Canary Islands. The central headquarters of the Spanish Navy is located at the naval base of Rota. /armada.mde.es

The Spanish Marine Corps is the oldest in the world. It was formed on February 27, 1537, during the reign of Charles I. The marines number approximately 3,000 and consist of a landing unit, a supply group, as well as a fire support and reconnaissance detachment in armored vehicles. / Reuters

The Spanish army today, like many centuries ago, occupies not last place in the life of this state. And despite the fact that the number of Spanish armed forces is small, military service is considered very honorable, and only the best become soldiers and officers.

Spanish army yesterday and today

Since ancient times, the Spanish army was considered one of the strongest in Europe. According to historical sources that have survived to this day, in the middle of the sixteenth century, the world's first special marine corps unit was created in this country, which very soon gained a reputation as a formidable and invincible enemy.

The navy and ground forces rendered excellent service to the state. With the help of a strong army, Spain withstood many wars and battles with honor.

Fortunately, nothing threatens the well-being of this country today. Therefore, the armed forces of Spain on this moment are quite few.

For almost fifty million inhabitants of this European state, there are in total, according to various sources, from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers and officers.

Despite this, the prestige of the army in the country is quite high, and serving for the benefit of Spain is considered very honorable. We will tell you more about how exactly the process of military service goes.

Service in the Spanish army: honorary mission

The armed forces of Spain today comprise three main branches of the armed forces: land, air and naval. The small number of armed forces is explained, first of all, by the voluntary nature of the service.

The officers of the Spanish army are trained by specialized schools. The term of study in such institutions is five years. Senior officers are also required to additionally take a course of one or another Military Academy.

The participation of the army in the life of Spanish society

The armed forces of Spain occupy not the last place in the life of the state and society. The commander-in-chief of the army is the head of the country - the Spanish king Juan Carlos the First, who, by the way, graduated from three military academies in his time.

Despite the relative calm, the Spanish army takes part in many active actions, to which it is prompted by the duties of a state of the European Community.

In particular, one of the ships of the Spanish Navy is constantly serving in the waters indian ocean, protecting commercial ships from piracy and other dangers.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the Spanish army took an active part in the actions to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Although the Spaniards received NATO gratitude for this, for them this story, unfortunately, turned into terrible tragedy that claimed the lives of more than a hundred civilians.

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Spain

One of the leading European countries, members of NATO and the EU. Accordingly, its aircraft are among the largest in the region. But the country was not bypassed by the general trend of reducing the military potential, aggravated by the difficult economic situation. Spain has a fairly developed military-industrial complex, capable of producing military equipment of almost all classes according to its own projects and foreign licenses.

Ground troops includes two divisions, an airmobile force and six commands.
The San Martial division (headquarters in Burgos) has the 1st Aragon (Zaragoza), the 10th Guzman el Bueno (Cordoba), the 11th Extremadura (Badajoz), the 12th Guadarrama (Madrid).

Division "Castillejos" (Madrid) includes brigades: 7th "Galicia" (Pontevedra), 2nd Spanish Legion "King Alphonse XIII" (Almeria), 6th paratrooper "Almogares" (Madrid).

The airmobile forces include the 1st strike, 2nd rescue, 3rd and 4th multi-purpose, 5th transport helicopter battalions.

The communications command includes the 1st and 21st communications regiments, and the 31st electronic warfare regiment.
Field Artillery Command: 4th Coastal Artillery Regiment, 11th SAU M109 Regiment, 62nd Teruel MLRS Regiment.
Air Defense Command: 71st, 73rd, 74th regiments.
Command of the engineering troops: 1, 11th road, 12th pontoon-bridge regiment.
Special Operations Command: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 19th Special Forces Groups.

In addition to these formations deployed in the main territory of the country, there are regional forces in the African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, in the Canary and Balearic Islands.

tank park includes 327 modern German (219 A5E, 108 A4).

Addition to the tanks - 84 Italian BMTV V-1 "Centauro" with a 105-mm cannon, as well as 135 BRM VEC-3562. In service - 144 of the latest Spanish-Austrian-designed Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles, more than a thousand armored personnel carriers: 455 American M113, 20 Swedish Bv206S, 312 domestic BMR-600, 185 Italian LMV, 100 South African RG-31.

In artillery- 90 American M109A5 self-propelled guns, more than 100 towed guns (56 British L118, 66 own SBT155 / 52, 16 similar to the last coastal SBT155 / 52APUSBTV07), about 1100 mortars. There are 236 of the latest Israeli Spike-LR and 44 ER ATGMs, 448 of the old French Milan and 200 of the American Tou (113 and 68 self-propelled, respectively).

Ground air defense includes 3 batteries of the American Patriot air defense system (24 launchers) and 7 batteries of the Advanced Hawk air defense system (42 launchers), 39 short-range air defense systems (13 Italian Skygard-Aspid, 18 French Roland, 8 Norwegian NASAMS), 180 French MANPADS "Mistral", 92 Swiss anti-aircraft guns GDF-005 (35 mm).

In service with army aviation there are 10 latest Franco-German Tiger combat helicopters and 13 German Vo-105ATN helicopters, as well as more than 100 multi-purpose and transport helicopters: 17 American CH-47D, 16 French AS332 and 16 AS532UL, 13 American UH-1H and 6 "Bell- 212", 17 German Bo-105SVs, 29 European EC135s, 8 German VK-117s.

air force include three aviation commands: combat (Torrejon), general purpose (Madrid), Canary Islands (Las Palmas).

In service - 55 of the latest European Typhoon fighters and 86 American F-18s. The combat aircraft also include basic patrol aircraft - 5 American P-3, 11 own CN-235MRA. There are 5 American KS-130N tankers and 3 Falcon-20 electronic warfare aircraft. Transport aircraft: 1 latest European A400M, 6 C-130N, 4 Beach-C90, 22 F33C, 19 C-212, 13 C-295, 12 CN-235, 3 Cessna-560, 2 A-310, 2 Boeing 707s, 5 Falcon 900s, 14 CL-215s, 4 CL-415s, 2 C127s. Helicopters: 13 AS-332, 2 AS-532, 6 SA-330, 15 EC-120, 8 S-76C, 9 NH90.

Spanish Navy have 3 submarines of the Galerna type (French, Agosta). To replace them, 4 submarines of the S80 type (French Murena) are being built. The basis of the surface forces are frigates. These are 5 of the latest Alvaro de Bazan, 6 Santa Maria (similar to the American Oliver Perry), 4 Descubierts, which are sometimes classified as corvettes. There are 18 patrol ships and boats, 6 minesweepers of the Segura type, 1 minesweeper control ship Diana.

Landing forces: UDC "Juan Carlos" and 2 DTD "Galicia".

All ships, boats and submarines, including foreign projects, are built in Spain itself.

Naval aviation is armed with 17 VTOL AV-8В "Harrier". After the decommissioning of the only aircraft carrier, their fate is unclear. The remaining planes and helicopters of naval aviation are American-made. These are 4 transport aircraft (3 Cessna-550, 1 Cessna-650), 18 anti-submarine helicopters (12 SH-60В, 6 SH-3Н), 3 SN-3Н AWACS helicopters, 14 multi-purpose and transport helicopters (6 " Hughes-369M", 8 "Bell-212").

Marines consists of one brigade. It is armed with 17 M60A3TTS tanks, 30 Swiss Piranha armored personnel carriers and 16 American AAV-7A1, 6 M109A2 self-propelled guns, 12 M-56 towed guns, 24 L-65/81 mortars, 24 Tou ATGMs, 12 Mistral MANPADS ".

There are no foreign troops in Spanish territory, but the Air Force and the US Navy use the Moron and Rota naval bases on a regular basis.

Portugal

Traditionally, it had an army that was insignificant in its potential. Since the end of the Cold War, it has somewhat intensified due to the supply of used equipment from the United States, Great Britain and the Netherlands and the purchase of new Austrian armored personnel carriers and German submarines. In such a strange way, the country went against the general NATO trend of a significant reduction in the Armed Forces. However, the Portuguese army still remained small.

Ground troops have a mechanized, airmobile, light infantry brigades, an army aviation group, command of the military zones: the Azores (1st and 2nd garrison infantry regiments) and Madeira (3rd garrison infantry regiment).

tank park includes 37 modern German "Leopard-2A6", as well as 187 old American vehicles (101 M60A3 / 4, 86 M48A5).

In service - 46 armored personnel carriers (15 American V-150, 31 French VBL) and more than 400 armored personnel carriers (up to 221 American M113, up to 77 own V-200, 142 Austrian "Pandur").

Artillery: 20 American M109 self-propelled guns, more than 50 towed guns (21 English L-118, up to 9 American M101, 24 Italian M-56, up to 12 American M114), about 300 mortars. There are 179 anti-tank systems - 87 French "Milan" (of which 6 on the VBL BRM), 72 American "Tou" (34 on the M113 armored personnel carrier and 5 on the Pandur armored personnel carrier), 20 Israeli "Spike".

Military air defense: 34 American Chaparel short-range air defense systems, 30 Stinger MANPADS, 36 American M163 ZSUs, 92 anti-aircraft guns - 30 German Rh 202, 62 Swedish L-60.

BBC They are armed with 26 American F-16 fighters. Franco-German Alfa Jet UBS (9 in service) can be used as light attack aircraft. 10 basic patrol aircraft (5 American P-3C, 7 Spanish C-295MRA) can be classified as combat aircraft. There are 15 transport aircraft (5 American C-130H and 3 Falcon-50, 7 Spanish C-295M) and 21 training aircraft (15 TB-30, 6 DHC-1), 20 multipurpose and transport helicopters (8 French SA316, 12 European EN101).

Navy have 2 newest German Project 214 submarines, 2 modern frigates Bartolomeu Dias (Dutch Karel Doorman) and 3 Vasco da Gama (German type MEKO2000), as well as 4 older frigates of their own construction, which are sometimes classified as corvettes - 2 "Joao Coutinho" and 2 "Baptista de Andrade". Quite modern are 2 patrol ships of the Viana do Castelo type and 4 of the Tejo type (former Danish Fluvefisken type). There are 14-15 patrol boats and a small landing ship of the Bombard type.

Naval aviation has 5 British helicopters "Lynx" Mk95.

Marines includes 2 battalions and a special forces group. Armed with 30 120mm mortars.

There are no foreign troops on the territory of Portugal, although the United States regularly uses the airfield in the Azores for its own purposes.

Like the rest of the European NATO armies, the armed forces of Spain and Portugal are focused on foreign police-type operations, and not on repelling an external threat. Whether this threat will appear in the foreseeable future in the south, or whether it has already arrived in the Pyrenees under the slogan "Welcome, dear migrants!", It will become clear in the very near future.

Despite the fact that Spain is one of the most developed economically European states, which have a powerful military potential, officially it only recently joined the NATO military organization. The leadership of the Alliance, taking into account the advantageous strategic position of Spain in the region, assigns it a prominent role in the implementation of its plans in the Eastern Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar and the Western Mediterranean.
Spain participates as an observer or a full partner in the work of many governing bodies of the Alliance, Spanish formations and units regularly conduct joint exercises with the armed forces of the bloc. First of all, this applies to the forces of the Spanish fleet in the Iberian Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
Such close cooperation between Spain and NATO required the implementation of cardinal measures to modernize all the armed forces: the replacement of obsolete weapons and military equipment more modern samples of domestic and foreign production; to change the organizational and staffing structure, as well as to master the concepts of combat operations adopted in NATO in modern warfare.
The armed forces of Spain consist of ground forces, air force and naval forces. By the mid-90s, their number was 312 thousand people: ground forces - 224 thousand people, air force - 40 thousand people, navy - 48 thousand people.
In accordance with the law on universal conscription, all Spanish male citizens who have reached the age of 17 and are fit for health reasons are considered liable for military service, the draft age is 19 years. The call is made 6 times a year. The duration of active service in all branches of the armed forces is 12 months. Those entering the military service have the right to conclude contracts for voluntary service for a period of 16 months and for voluntary special service (as specialists and junior commanders) for a period of 18 months, two or three years. After the end of active service, military personnel are transferred to the reserve, in which they are up to 34 years old.
Miners, students of spiritual educational institutions and persons convicted under various articles of the criminal code, as well as persons suffering from diseases, physical disabilities and mental disorders that are included in the relevant list of diseases approved by the Ministry of Defense.
Subject special attention command of the armed forces of Spain is the training of the officer corps, which is staffed by both regular officers (graduates of military schools) and contract officers (graduates of some civilian educational institutions). The full officer training course is designed for 5 years and ends with the assignment of the military rank of lieutenant to a serviceman. To receive a higher military education, it is necessary to graduate from the military academy of the corresponding type of troops.
Non-commissioned officers and junior officers retire to the reserve upon reaching the age of 56, senior officers - 56-58 years old, generals and admirals - 60-64 years old. At the age of 65 non-commissioned officers and officers retire.
In addition to men, women also serve on a voluntary basis in the Spanish army, but their ratio to the total number of the Armed Forces is very small and amounts to just over 0.1%. Existing legislation prohibits the use of female military personnel in combat operations.
In accordance with the Spanish constitution, the supreme commander of the armed forces is the king, he has the highest military rank of captain general. The King approves the laws in the field of national defense, determines the functions and appoints officials of the higher military administration, and directs the armed forces through the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defense.
The main bodies of the highest military leadership are: the Prime Minister, the National Defense Council. Ministry of Defense, Committee of Chiefs of Staff, General Staff and General Staffs of the Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy.
The ground forces are the main and most numerous type of troops of the armed forces of Spain. They are designed to conduct combat operations both on the territory of the country and abroad.
In military and administrative terms, the entire territory of the country is divided into six military districts: Central (headquarters in Madrid), South (Seville), East (Valencia), East Pyrenees (Barcelona), West Pyrenees (Burgos) and Northwest (La -Coruña). Separate commands have been established in the Balearic and Canary Islands. Each district is headed by a commander with the rank of lieutenant general.
The Spanish Air Force is an independent branch of the armed forces. In accordance with the military doctrine of Spain and the plans of NATO, the Air Force is entrusted with combat missions to gain and maintain air superiority; covering important objects of the country and groupings of troops from air strikes; protection of sea and air communications in the regions of the Iberian Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean; providing direct support to ground and naval forces; administered aerial reconnaissance; airborne landings; air transport of troops and cargo.
The leadership of the air force is carried out by the chief of the main headquarters of the air force (commander) through the main headquarters and the headquarters of the air force districts.
A fairly developed airfield network has been created on the territory of Spain, including 75 airfields of various classes. About 30 of them have capital runways about 2 km long and are used by the military and civil aviation. The Spanish Air Force is currently based at Valencia airfields. Valladolid. Albacete, Moron de Frontera, Zaragoza, Torrejon, Talavera la Real, Jerez de la Frontera. There are five airfields in the Canary Islands.
The Spanish navy includes the navy, naval aviation and marines. They are entrusted with the tasks of protecting sea lanes; protection of the coast of the continental part of the country, the Balearic and Canary Islands, the enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta, territorial waters and the economic zone; providing support to ground forces in coastal areas; landing operations; carrying out patrol service.
Naval forces are managed by the main headquarters of the Navy, headed by the chief of the main staff (commander).
In military and administrative terms, the entire coast of Spain is divided into four naval districts: Cantabrian (headquarters in El Ferrol). Strait zone (Cadiz), Mediterranean (Cartagena), Canary Islands (Las Palmas).
Organizationally, the naval forces consist of three commands: fleet, naval aviation and marines.
The main command of the Spanish Navy is the fleet command, which includes aircraft carrier forces, submarine flotillas, escort ships, amphibious and mine-sweeping forces.
The main directions in the construction of the Spanish Navy is the qualitative improvement of the naval composition and aviation of the Navy.
In general, according to Western military experts, the Spanish armed forces, in terms of their technical equipment and the quality of personnel training, occupy a worthy place among the US European allies in the NATO bloc.