More than 2,500 military personnel and 250 vehicles from 15 countries participated in the MILEX 26 exercise, held at the San Gregorio Training Center in Zaragoza. The maneuvers tested the European Union’s Rapid Deployment Capability, a force of up to 5,000 troops designed to intervene in crisis situations both within and outside the community’s borders.
In June, Zaragoza became one of the main stages for European security and defense policy. San Gregorio hosted the operational phase of MILEX 26, the exercise through which the European Union tested its ability to deploy a multinational military force within a maximum timeframe of ten days in response to a crisis.
The exercise mobilized more than 2,500 military personnel from 15 European countries—around 1,600 of whom were Spanish—and over 250 tactical and logistical vehicles. The objective was not limited to evaluating the performance of specific units; it also included testing the command structure, coordination, and deployment necessary for the EU to respond autonomously and swiftly when required.
The so-called Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) serves as one of the pillars of the European Union’s Strategic Compass. Its framework envisions the projection, within a maximum of ten days, of a modular force of up to 5,000 military personnel, with capabilities in land, naval, air, space, and cyberspace operations.
San Gregorio: A Stage for Multinational Operations
The exercise simulated a crisis in a fictional country located at the western edge of Africa. According to the premise, an EU-aligned state requested military assistance to confront a separatist crisis affecting the southern part of its territory.
The operation commenced on May 24 with the movement of personnel and equipment from various locations across Europe via land, sea, and air. The goal was to establish an initial force capable of stabilizing the situation and to facilitate the subsequent arrival of additional units.
San Gregorio concentrated a significant part of that operational capacity. The EU Battle Group was organized around the Canarias XVI Infantry Brigade and received reinforcements from units in Portugal and Romania. The Force Headquarters was provided by the Eurocorps.
The scale of the deployment necessitated the mobilization of troops and vehicles from the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, and various locations on the mainland. Some equipment arrived by sea aboard the logistical transport ships Ysabel and Camino Español, while other resources were transported by road and rail to Zaragoza.
Leopard, F-18, Helicopters, and Drones
One of the central moments of MILEX 26 took place on June 18, when participating units conducted a joint ground and air demonstration before civilian and military representatives of the European Union.
The tactical scenario depicted an attack by an insurgent group on a humanitarian aid convoy. The response from the Battle Group was executed in approximately 30 minutes, successfully demonstrating coordination among different units and systems.
The reaction began with a counterattack by Leopard 2A4 tanks and Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles. Subsequently, F-18 aircraft engaged in reconnaissance and close air support missions.
The operation also included an airborne assault by Portuguese infantry from two Super Puma helicopters, protected by two AB-212 helicopters. Additionally, the evacuation of wounded personnel and route clearance were performed by Portuguese explosive ordnance disposal specialists and Spanish engineering units equipped with Castor vehicles.
These capabilities were complemented by unmanned aerial systems for surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare units, air defense, communications and intelligence, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection equipment.
A European Force Ready to React
The significance of MILEX 26 lies mainly in its ability to integrate resources from different countries under a common command structure.
At the strategic level, the European Union’s Military Planning and Conduct Capability directed the military response from Brussels. On the ground, the headquarters provided by the Eurocorps assumed the operational level and coordinated the activities of the Battle Group.
The deployed force included a tactical grouping of about 500 personnel and 80 combat vehicles, based on the Soria Regiment No. 9. Approximately 400 additional military personnel were dedicated to combat support capabilities, while another 200 were responsible for sustainment, supply, transportation, and maintenance tasks.
The arrangement also incorporated a Role 2B hospital, helicopter units, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, civil-military cooperation teams, electronic warfare units, and specialists from the Civil Guard focused on investigation, border control, and intervention.
Europe Strengthens Its Strategic Autonomy
The exercise held in Zaragoza is part of a broader debate regarding the role the European Union should play in its own security and defense.
During the maneuvers, the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, highlighted that NATO continues to serve as the foundation for European security and collective defense. At the same time, he advocated for Europe to develop greater self-sustaining, active, and interoperable capabilities.
The Rapid Deployment Capacity specifically addresses that aspiration. Its aim is to provide the European Union with a military tool ready to intervene in specific crisis scenarios, ensuring that the establishment of an operational force does not have to start from scratch each time an emergency arises.
