The article provides an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Spanish Air Force as of 2018 and includes all currently active units. The Spanish Air Force is commanded by the Air Force Chief of Staff or "Jefe de Estado Mayor" (JEMA) in Madrid.

The source for this article is the organization section on the website of the Spanish Air Force.

Historical background

A Government decree dated 2d October 1935 of the Spanish Republican Government that placed the Dirección General de Aeronáutica under the authority of a specific ministry, known then as the War Ministry, Ministerio de la Guerra, instead of being under the Presidencia del Gobierno. Following that decree, the Air Force regional units became restructured in 1936. Accordingly, the Spanish Navy-based Escuadra model was replaced by Región Militar divisions which was operative until for all of the 20th century.[1] Nowadays the Spanish Air Force is still under a separate ministry, the Ministerio de Defensa.

After the Spanish Civil War the bulk of the Spanish Armed Forces changes were introduced within the regional structure, following which all relevant air bases would be withdrawn from Catalonia, a former key region in the development of the Aeronáutica Militar, the Spanish Air Force in its early days. Even though before and during the Civil War important air bases had been established in or around Barcelona, like the Aviación Naval, henceforward the whole northeastern area of Spain would be left with mere token presence of the Spanish Air Force. The situation is similar in the Basque Country as well, with the difference that there had not been any important air bases there before the conflict that shaped the present structure. While Galicia has no significant Air Force Base within its territory, it has nevertheless a very important Naval Base at Ferrol.[2]

Structure

Structure of the Spanish Air and Space Force is located in Spain
alt text for Torrejón Air Base
Albacete
Zaragoza
Morón
San Javier
Talavera la Real
Villanubla
Getafe
Son S. Juan
Matacán
C. Vientos
Tablada
Alcantarilla
Alcantarilla
Armilla
Armilla
Spanish Air Force locations 2018:
Eurofighter Typhoon EF-18A Hornet F-5M Freedom Fighter C-101 Aviojet
Helicopters other flying units (Gando Air Base to the South on Gran Canaria island)

The Air Force Chief of Staff (JEMA) commands all units of the Spanish Air Force from the headquarter in Madrid.[3]

Air Force Headquarters

The Air Force Headquarters manages the human and material resources necessary for the JEMA to exercise command over the Air Force.[4]

Combat Air Command

Structure of the Spanish Air and Space Force is located in Spain
El Frasno
Villatobas
Constantina
Roses
Aitana
Puig Major
Motril
Barbanza
Alcalá de los Gazules
Espinosa de los Monteros
Sierra Espuña
Sierra Espuña
Torrejón
Zaragoza
Spanish Air Force radar stations 2018 (+ two stations off map in the Canary Islands)
Radar station with Indra LANZA 3D
Radar station with RAT-31SL/T
Command and Control Center

The Combat Air Command (MACOM) at Torrejón Air Base is the operational headquarter of the Spanish Air Force and responsible for the control and defense of the Spanish airspace.

The following units are part of the General Air Command but fall operationally under the Combat Air Command:

General Air Command

The General Air Command (MAGEN) in Madrid maintains and supports the operational forces, and oversees the Air Force's training and formation units. The following units are all part of the MAGEN, but operationally many fall under the operational control of other higher commands. Therefore, the following listing separates the units of MAGEN according to the air force's operational organization.

Canary Islands Air Command

Structure of the Spanish Air and Space Force is located in Canary Islands
Air Cmd. HQ
Gando
Lanzarote Aerodrome
Vega de San Mateo
Haría
Canary Islands Air Command locations
EF-18A Hornet Air Base
Radar station with Indra LANZA
Radar station with Selex RAT-31SL/T
Command and Control Center

The Canary Islands Air Command (Mando Aéreo de Canarias - MACAN) is responsible for the defense of the Canary Islands and the only regional command.[6]

Logistic Support Command

The Logistic Support Command (MALOG) in Madrid manages the air force's material resources and logistical support.[7]

The following units are part of the General Air Command but fall operationally under the Logistic Support Command:

Personnel Command

The Personnel Command (MAPER) in Madrid manages and controls all personnel matters, including assistance medical and educational aspects.[8]

The following units are part of the General Air Command but fall operationally under the Personnel Command:

Economic Affairs Directorate

The Economic Affairs Directorate (DAE) in Madrid oversees the air force's budget and reports to the Ministry of Defense's General Directorate of Economic Affairs.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ejército del Aire - 1936 Archived 2014-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Armada Española - Desplieque geográfico
  3. ^ "Organizacion". Spanish Air Force. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Structure of the Air Staff". Spanish Air Force. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. ^ Defensa.com (2021-03-27). "C-130 Hécules del Ejército del Aire español: La sombra de un gigante - Noticias Defensa En abierto". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  6. ^ "Spanish Air Force Organization". Spanish Air Force. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Structure of the Logistic Support Command". Spanish Air Force. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Structure of the Personnel Command". Spanish Air Force. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. ^ aeronavesmilitaresespanolas. "233 Escuadrón". AERONAVES MILITARES ESPAÑOLAS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  10. ^ "Structure of the Economic Affairs Directorate". Spanish Air Force. Retrieved 18 May 2018.

External links

Spanish Armed Forces
Allied Air Command
Air forces in Europe
List of air forces
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