Spain’s Air and Space Force will bring its basic fighter squadrons to Morón Air Base from 13 to 18 September for Atlante 26, its most complex combat exercise yet. For the first time, F-18 and Eurofighter jets will launch live air-to-surface missiles at naval targets in the Gulf of Cádiz, alongside air-to-air and anti-drone drills.
The Gulf of Cádiz will serve as the exercise’s test area, with Morón as the basic command center. Information from Zona Militar, Atlante 26 is one of the Spanish Air Force’s top training events of the year.
The execution phase of Atlante 26 is scheduled for 14 to 18 September. September 13 is set aside for preparations, including safety briefings and deployment.
This year’s drill features a wider range of weapons and tougher scenarios. Last year’s exercise focused on air-to-air missiles against SCRAB II and SCRAB III targets. The program now adds live cannon fire at drone-towed targets and, for the first time, air-to-surface missile launches at a ship. NH90 helicopters from Ala 48 and paratroopers from EZAPAC will also take part. All major fighter wings are involved: Ala 11, 12, 14, 15, and 46, covering the full F-18 and Eurofighter fleet.
Morón will host these fighter units, bringing Spain’s F-18 and Eurofighter squadrons together. The operation begins on 13 September with briefings and preparations; live-fire drills start on the 14th. Each day will test different weapons in set time slots, with a phased withdrawal on the 18th. NH90 helicopters and EZAPAC will take part, while command and control teams support the missions.
The exercise also reaches beyond the air base. In Huelva, the Centro de Experimentación de El Arenosillo (CEDEA) will remotely control aerial and maritime targets. The INTA-run facility specializes in missile tracking and unmanned vehicle testing, making it a basic part of the drill. Official sources say CEDEA/INTA’s role reflects the growing importance of test-range infrastructure and advanced guidance systems in Spanish exercises.
Anti-drone warfare has become a practical concern. The C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems) missions in Atlante 26 follow repeated airspace violations on NATO’s eastern flank. After the launch of Eastern Sentry in 2025 and recent Spanish-led night operations over Poland, Spain is applying those lessons at home and training its units to counter drones in realistic conditions.
The timing is deliberate. Spain is updating its combat aviation. F-18s remain in service, while the Halcón I and II programs will soon add 45 new Eurofighter jets, bringing the total to 115 and gradually replacing older planes. Atlante 26 will put both generations in the air together as an operational exercise, under live-fire rules and strict safety controls. Airspace and sea zones will be tightly managed, with air traffic and naval authorities coordinating in real time.
Atlante 26 addresses the changing demands of modern warfare, where drones and hybrid threats call for new tactics and faster decisions. The broader, more realistic drills reflect Spain’s effort to keep pace with NATO and address security challenges on Europe’s borders.
