Spain deploys Centauro combat vehicles and Light Gun Field Howitzers for the first time in an international mission

The deployment of personnel, vehicles and military equipment corresponding to the fourth rotation of the contingent stationed in Slovakia began on 10 June with the embarkation of means at the port of Sagunto. After a four-day voyage, the ship arrived at the port of Koper in Slovenia.

Among the resources deployed, The VRCC highlights the presence of Centauro mounted reconnaissance and combat vehicles, VERT reconnaissance and land exploration vehicles, Mistral missile firing positions and 105mm Light Gun field artillery howitzers. and EOD vehicles with explosive disposal equipment.

For the first time, the armed forces have deployed the above-mentioned Centauro as well as model howitzer guns on an international mission 105 mm Light Gun Field artillery. “Capabilities that show Spain’s commitment to the collective defense in Slovakia,” says the Defense General Staff.

On 15 June, unloading of the ship began and, under the coordination of the National Support Element (NSE), Separate convoys are prepared for movement by road to the logistics base facilities in Sklane and the maneuvers area in the Slovak town of Leš.

All Material Shipped from Spain was divided into two parts. Aside, Containers with different equipment, manning levels and logistic autonomy of the Multinational Brigade And on the other hand, Various vehicles and platforms that reinforce those already deployed in previous rotations with new capabilities.

After three days of travel, with intermediate stops at the transit bases of Postojna, Slovenska Bistrica and Murska Sobota in Slovenia and Camp Croft in the Hungarian city of Veszprém, they reached their final destination without incident, thus ending the last phase of the land movement of vehicles and equipment.

This launch completes the field deployment of the future multinational brigade which will take place in Slovakia within the framework of NATO’s presence and deterrence operation on its eastern flank.. In this way, Spain shows its commitment, solidarity, determination and capability in the common defense of the territory and populations of our allies.

The deployment of the first vehicles and military equipment of the contingent began with the shipment of the means in the port of Vigo on February 12. After an eight-day voyage, the ship ‘Astraden’ arrived in the port of Koper in Slovenia.

On 21 February, ship unloading began and, under the operational coordination of MOPS, the various convoys were prepared for their movement by road to the maneuver area facilities in the Slovak town of Lesh.

It is a multinational battalion of about 1,500 soldiers in which Spain is participating for the first time and which, from July 1, will lead it. Our country will send a combat helicopter unit composed of three Tigers and two NH-90s. Since mid-March, 608 Spanish soldiers have been preparing everything, joined by 150 others the Spanish Armed Forces will maintain permanently 758 soldiers, who together with 50 from Slovakia, 104 from Slovenia, 150 from the Czech Republic and 80 from Portugal form the “Battle Group”. Alliance Deterrence (tactical group), based in Leste. The battalion is currently led by the Czech Republic and will take over from Spain on June 30.

about this The main Spanish military deployment in 2024, as it will head a battalion composed of around 2,000 soldiers from Slovenia, Germany, the United States, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and which has battle tanks or air defense systems.,

currently, NATO has eight combat groups (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia) in the process of evolving from battalion to brigade. At the last Vilnius summit in 2023, Spain confirmed that it would lead Slovakia and that it would reinforce Romania with 250 troops, both created in February 2022.

A large portion of the integrated troops in our country’s leadership group are from this “Galicia” VII Brigade (Brillat). And at the moment they have deployed 250 light vehicles, waiting for each country’s contribution to close. Initially, Spain offered “Leopard” combat tanks – provided by Portugal – and helicopters.

Too By July 1, Spain will join the Romanian battalion with 250 soldiers. The French side also has more than 2,000 troops from Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and the United States. They will be deployed in the city of Cinque, in the center of the country, where there is also a training area in which maneuvers can be carried out that are still a show of force as much as a preventive measure.

All of them will join the Spanish troops already deployed in other NATO deterrent forces (permanent or temporary). Thus, today, Spain has just under 2,000 military personnel deployed in Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic or the Baltic Sea, providing protection by land, sea and air with ships, combat aircraft, armored vehicles or missile batteries. Along with them, we must also take into account the 1,690 uniformed personnel (with four ships, planes and helicopters) who make up the Navy’s “Daedalus” Combat Group, which, having a national mission, fulfills during its deployment numerous maneuvers under the Alliance flag to show Allied unity and act as a deterrent force.