Airforces - Typhoon school

(Jacob Rumans) #1
de Electrónica Submarina (SAES)
SPAS-16 acoustic system is
capable of monitoring up to 32
sonobuoys simultaneously.
The three modernised aircraft
also received some structural
modifications with the objective
of increasing the service life of
the airframes by at least another
5,000 hours – with retirement
foreseen in the 2025 timeframe.

VIGMA programme
While the P-3M modernisation
was under way, the air force
decided to further reinforce its
MPA capabilities by converting
eight CN235M tactical transports
then in service with Ala 35 at
Getafe, transforming them into
the VIGMA (Vigilancia Marítima,
maritime surveillance) version.
The first CN235M VIGMA entered
service with 803 Escuadrón
of Ala 48 in February 2008.
Under its new Spanish military
designation D.4, the VIGMA is

Above left: P.3M-12 ‘22-35’ is one of three P-3B ‘Super Bravos’ acquired from Norway at the end of the 1980s and subsequently modernised. Here it is on
a patrol fl ight over the Alboran Sea, near the strait of Gibraltar. Ejército del Aire Above: The eight Ejército del Aire D.4s are divided between the air force’s
three SAR squadrons. Eight examples were modifi ed from existing CN235M-100 (T.19) airframes from 2008 onwards. Ejército del Aire Below: The specialised
MPA version of the CN235 is also used by SASEMAR and the Guardia Civil. One of the two Guardia Civil VIGMAs is seen at Sigonella assigned to FRONTEX
alongside an Ejército del Aire example awaiting an Operation Sophia mission. Ejército del Aire


Ejército del Aire ORBAT
Unit Aircraft Base
221 Escuadrón P-3M
Orion

Morón de
la Frontera
801 Escuadrón CN235M
VIGMA

Mallorca

802 Escuadrón CN235M
VIGMA

Gran
Canaria
803 Escuadrón CN235M
VIGMA

Madrid

Inventory
Aircraft Number
P-3M Orion 3
CN235M VIGMA 8

equipped to undertake maritime
surveillance and SAR missions
in day and night over sea or
land. It has an endurance of
nine hours, providing an effective
range of 650nm. Sensors include
an infrared/electro-optical turret
and a Litton Canada AN/APS-
504 maritime surveillance radar
in a ventral position to provide
360-degree coverage. The aircraft
have an automatic identification
system (AIS), a tactical display
in the cockpit, flare and marker
launcher, lateral observation
window and Immarsat satellite
communications. Modernised
avionics included a FITS tactical
system, data link, digital video-
recording capability, data-transfer
device and a launcher for life rafts
and rescue gear in the rear ramp.
The eight aircraft are divided
between three air force SAR units:
801 Escuadrón based on Mallorca,
802 Escuadrón stationed on Gran
Canaria and the aforementioned

803 Escuadrón in Madrid.
Despite the relatively small
size of the MPA fleet, the P-3M
and the CN235M VIGMA have
both been intensively involved in
international missions in recent
years. Since 2008 there has been
a permanent MPA detachment to
Djibouti (either a P-3M or CN235M
VIGMA) to support the European
Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR)
Operation Atalanta, intended to
combat piracy in the waters off
Somalia. A VIGMA is stationed
in Sigonella, Sicily as part of
Operation Sophia, participating
in the EU NAVFOR Med fight
against smuggling and human
trafficking in the Mediterranean.
Spain contributes a P-3M or a
VIGMA to Operation Sea Guardian
(formerly Active Endeavour),
the NATO counter-terrorism
mission in the Mediterranean.
Apart from these MPAs belonging
to the Ejército del Aire, two other
government agencies fly versions
of the CN235 for maritime patrol.
The Guardia Civil (Civil Guard)
received two new-build CN235M
VIGMAs in 2008, while the
Sociedad Estatal de Salvamento
y Seguridad Marítima (SASEMAR,
Maritime Safety and Rescue
Society) has operated three similar
CN235-300MPA aircraft since


  1. All are equipped with the
    FITS tactical mission system and
    various sensors to aid them in their
    assigned missions of SAR, pollution
    control within territorial waters,
    illegal immigration prevention,
    anti-smuggling and counter-
    narcotics operations. Roberto
    Yáñez and Alex Rodríguez


Guardia Civil ORBAT
Unit Aircraft Base
Grupo de Ala
Fija

CN235M
VIGMA

Torrejón

Detachment CN235M
VIGMA

Las
Palmas-
Gando

Inventory
Aircraft Number
CN235M VIGMA 2

SASEMAR ORBAT
Unit Aircraft Base
SASEMAR
101

CN235-
300MPA

Valencia

SASEMAR
102

CN235-
300MPA

Santiago de
Compostela
SASEMAR
103

CN235-
300MPA

Las Palmas-
Gando

Inventory
Aircraft Number

AFM CN235-300MPA^3

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #361 APRIL 2018 // 79
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