In just a few hours time the men and woman of the 25th rotation of Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Air (MPRA) “Orion” Detachment will return home after completing a successful counter-piracy aerial patrol mission with Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.
Deployed to Djibouti from their home port in Spain for the last 130 days, the crew has flown nearly 400 flying hours, completed 48 missions, and notched up an impressive 3,000 maintenance hours to ensure that the aircraft was always fully prepared for operations in what is a very challenging air/sea environment.
Eighty eight airmen belonging to the Spanish Air Force made up the 25th rotation. They acted as the eyes and ears in the sky, producing high quality intelligence imagery for the operation’s Force Commander who is embarked in the Operation Atalanta’s flagship, FGS Bayern.
The 25th rotation is returning home, rightly proud of what they have achieved in helping to ensure Somali-based piracy remained suppressed and seafarers remained safe.
The 26th team is already in place, ready to take over and ready to maintain the high level of efficiency and professionalism.
Mission accomplished and well done!