Sirio in the name of the main combat exercise carried out by the Spanish Air and Space Force. It takes place annually, and this year it was held in the Canary Islands, being Gando Air Base the main hub, where most units were deployed.
Participants within Sirio 2022 included more than 2000 people from 21 different units, with more than 30 aircraft, including EF-18M Hornets from 12th and 15th Wing, Eurofighters from 14th and 11th Wing, EF-18A+ from 46th Wing, C-295 from 35th Wing, A400M from 31th Wing and NH90 helicopters from 48th Wing. However Sirio is not just about aircraft and flying, Sirio is about testing and preparing all the capabilities of the Spanish Air Force, including expeditionary capabilities, command and control, communications, Security, Ciber-security, special operations, electronic warfare, etc.
As one participant in Sirio told me, Sirio has a lot of exercises within it, in example, Sirio 2022 included the evaluation of the Spanish Air Force units that will take part in NATO Rapid Reponse Force from next year.
Furthermore, the NATO EART air refuelling course took place at the same dates as Sirio, in fact it was part of it. Lanzarote air station was home of three tanker form NATO nations that were flying daily missions with the fighters, providing them with in flight fuel. The three tanker involved were a French Air Force Airbus A330 MRTT Phoenix, an Italian Air Force KC-676 and a Canadian Air Force A310 Polaris.
Sirio 2022 was a great exercise and a great success for the Spanish Air and Space Force, showing that they are ready for any challenge they may have to face in the near future.
Photos: ALE 46
