The Air Command and Control experts in the CAOC’s Static Air Defence Centre contributed to the Recognized Air Picture, balancing the effort in the Black Sea, sharing military tactical data link network amongst involved units and enabling situational awareness. 

The CAOC team, operating out of their facilities in Spain, effected across-domain cooperation with Control and Reporting Centres in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the SNMG2 frigates Romanian ROS REGINA MARIA, Bulgarian BGS SMELI, Spanish ESP CRISTOBAL COLÓN and Turkish TCG KEMAL REIS.

“This kind of activity is an excellent opportunity to practice the coordination and the exchange of information among the participants,” said the CAOC Commander Lieutenant General Fernando De La Cruz. “It is a way to integrate NATO assets, showing the level of cooperation in an air and maritime exercise among allies, to continue strengthening the cohesion of the NATO Alliance” he added. 

Conducted along realistic operational tactics, techniques and procedures this exercise enabled professional training of CAOC personnel and demonstrated Allied interoperability of maritime and air communication assets in a COVID restricted environment.

NATO's Southern CAOC in Spain is responsible for overseeing all Allied air operations south of the Alps and works together with Control and Reporting Centres of the Allies to ensure 24/7 vigilance safeguarding the airspace.