The skies of the Canary Islands once again become a training ground for aerial combat
The skies south of the Canary Islands are the setting for Ocean Sky 2025 this month, Spain’s largest annual air combat training exercise and one of the most significant of its kind in Europe. Organised by the Spanish Air Force, the exercise runs until 31st October, bringing together aircraft and crews from several allied nations.
According to the Air and Space Force, the Canary Islands will become a “vast operational arena”, where Spanish and international units will test their capabilities in a “complex and highly demanding environment”.
The training is directed by the Air Combat Command (MACOM) under the operational leadership of Gando Air Base on Gran Canaria, with support from Lanzarote Air Base. Spain’s 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 31st, and 46th Wings are all taking part, deploying Eurofighter Typhoons and F-18M aircraft.
Participating alongside them are air forces from Germany, Greece, Portugal, India, and the United States, as well as aircraft from the European Air Refuelling Training (EART) initiative.
Over 50 Aircraft in Multinational Force
The international contingent includes F-18M, Eurofighter, F-16 C/D B50, F-16 Fighting Falcon M, F-15E, and Su-30MKI fighters, supported by tanker aircraft such as MRTT, KC-767, KC-30M, A-332, and A400M. In total, more than 50 aircraft are involved, forming a large-scale multinational force designed to strengthen interoperability and cooperation between allied nations.
Ground units including GRUALERCON, GRUCEMAC, GRUNOMAC, EADA, SEADA, GRUMOCA, CIGES, and the Royal Guard also play an important role in the exercise.
Why the Canaries?
The choice of the Canary Islands as the venue is no coincidence, the Air Force explains. The region’s stable year-round weather and low air traffic density make it an ideal location for complex and realistic training scenarios, allowing simulated large-scale air combat missions to be conducted safely.
Training for Air Superiority
The main goal of Ocean Sky 25 is to train aircrews in air superiority missions, covering both Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) and Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) operations. These exercises aim to enhance tactical leadership, coordination, and interoperability, all essential for maintaining collective security within European airspace.
EF-18M and Spanish Eurofighters at Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria. (Photo: Ministerio de Defensa).
Commitment to Excellence
Preliminary familiarisation flights (FAM flights) took place on 17th October, allowing crews to conduct reconnaissance and adapt to local conditions before the main operations.
The Air Force highlights that Ocean Sky reflects Spain’s commitment to operational excellence and allied cooperation. Conducting the exercise from the Canary Islands, it says, demonstrates that Spain and its airmen are “ready to defend their skies and those of their allies.”
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