HQ NRDC-ESP

NRDC ESP Command Post

Meeting at the NRDC ESP Command Post

Liaison Officers at the NRDC ESP

Exercise Valiant Lynx 18, the largest and most important commitment of the Spanish Army to NATO during 2018, has concluded today.

The NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain Headquarters (CGTAD in Spanish) has led this exercise from the Chinchilla (Albacete) military training area, where around 1200 military personnel have deployed. For over one week, they have been trained in a Major Joint Operation against an adversary who has similar military capabilities.

Valiant Lynx 18 exercise took place simultaneously in Chinchilla (Albacete) and San Gregorio (Zaragoza) military training areas, as well as in Bétera Military Base and Torrejón de Ardoz Military Air Base. A total of 5000 troops have taken part. This exercise has served to test the Army's tactical command and control system by aligning the three levels of command of the Spanish Army- Army Corps, Division and Brigade- in one single exercise. They communicated with each other deploying a Communication and Information System provided by the Spanish Signal Command (MATRANS in Spanish).

The exercise concluded with the visit of the Minister of Defense to the units deployed in San Gregorio (Zaragoza), the “Guadarrama XII” Brigade, equipped with Leopard 2E tanks and Pizarro infantry combat vehicles, the Spanish Army Aviation Unit equipped with helos and the Spanish Air Force, equipped with fighters.

Meanwhile, in "Chinchilla", various civil and military authorities, Spanish and from other countries belonging to the Alliance, were able to observe in situ how the operation was being conducted.

Valiant Lynx 18 exercise tested and verified the combat readiness of the military units according to NATO standards. This internal evaluation was carried out by the Spanish Training & Indoctrination Command (known by its Spanish acronym, MADOC). This Command is under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Army Staff and runs all Army matters relative to Training Support