For the first time, the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio has deployed parts of its command and planning structure to Base Aérea de Pollença in Mallorca. According to the Air and Space Force, a planning cell of the Joint Force Air Component (ESP JFAC) operated there between 15 and 29 October 2026 to plan missions as part of the exercise series Sirio-Dragón-Tormenta 2026 .
The core of the deployment was the Combat Plans Division (CPD). The planning functions were set up in mobile modules belonging to the Grupo Móvil de Control Aéreo and supported by the Segundo Escuadrón de Apoyo al Despliegue Aéreo (SEADA) and the Centro de Informática de Gestión (CIGES) . On the grounds of Base Aérea de Pollença, the troops established a secure zone with controlled access. According to the service, the measure was intended to test procedures, logistics and IT security when operating from a site not routinely prepared for this purpose.
Spain’s air navigation service provider, ENAIRE had published temporary exercise and restricted areas for the period 19 to 29 October 2026, linked to Sirio-Dragón-Tormenta 2026. Military accounts give slightly different dates for some parts of the exercise, including 19 to 30 October and 15 to 29 October for the CPD’s participation. The planning cell in Pollença was therefore integrated in time with the overall exercise, although this was not a complete relocation of the air operations centre.
The armed forces describe the move as strengthening their ability to carry out operational tasks away from permanently established facilities. They tested decentralised command operations, protective measures and coordination with flight-operation restrictions in the affected regions. The statements reviewed did not publish specific details on the number of assets involved, the duration of individual missions or particular scenarios.
Sirio-Dragón-Tormenta 2026 is a nationwide exercise comprising several phases. According to the Air Force, its main focus was activating the ESP JFAC and ensuring that planning and command processes were fully in place. The Combat Plans Division tested in Pollença carried out its duties for the planning phase of the Dragón (JFAC activated), Sirio and Tormenta sections. Regional air traffic may have been temporarily affected by the designated exercise zones.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).