Spanish Air Force maintains maritime patrol force in Djibouti

The Spanish Air Force maritime patrol aircraft detachment stationed in Djibouti has rotated its aircrew as it continues to support the European Union Naval Force’s anti-piracy operations in the region.

The 32nd and 33rd crew rotations performed their handover in Djibouti on 23 January. The Spanish maritime patrol aircraft detachment comprises 44 people including aircrew and maintenance technicians, who usually join the mission for two months at a time, the European Union Naval Force (EU Navfor) said.

During the last two months with the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta, the outgoing personnel of the 32nd rotation, usually based in Palma de Mallorca with the Spanish Air Forces Wing 48, flew 25 night and day sorties. With more than 200 flying hours, they flew over 26 000 nautical miles.

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