Spanish Maritime Forces HQ leads the largest NATO exercise in 2026

The Armada has commanded the Maritime Component of NATO's Allied Reaction Force (ARF) during Exercise ‘Steadfast Dart 26’, the largest allied training exercise of the year, held from February 1 to 20 in the Baltic and North Seas. Through the Spanish Maritime Forces Headquarters (SPMARFOR), Spain directed all participating maritime units, reinforcing its role as a key nation capable of leading complex naval operations in a multinational environment.

SPMARFOR, part of the High Readiness Maritime Headquarters, is serving as the Maritime Component Command (MCC) of the ARF from July 2025 to July 2026. This designation places Spain among the select group of countries that offer NATO a deployable maritime headquarters ready to assume control of naval forces in demanding scenarios, reinforcing the national commitment to collective defense and allied interoperability.

During the exercise, the Spanish Staff embarked on the amphibious ship LPD ‘Castilla’. From there, all frigates, amphibious forces, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned systems were duly coordinated. In total, ‘Steadfast Dart 26’ involved approximately 2,600 people from 11 allied countries and around 15 ships, testing the ARF's capability to deploy in a few days and generate immediate effects in a multi-domain scenario.

In addition to the ‘Castilla’ and the SPMARFOR, the Spanish Navy contributed with the F-100 frigates ‘Cristóbal Colón’ and ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’, the latter integrated into NATO's Standing Naval Group 1 (SNMG-1), under the command of a Spanish admiral. With those assets Spain contributed to the air defense, surface warfare, and amphibious projection capabilities, fully integrated into the allied structure.

The central event of the exercise took place on February 18 in Putlos, Germany, where Spain led an amphibious demonstration that integrated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, underwater insertions, special forces, and the landing of a group of Turkish Marines ashore. Subsequently, a maritime interdiction operation was conducted, rehearsing the interception and control of vessels in accordance with international law. Both scenarios demonstrated the rapid activation, multi-domain coordination, and effectiveness of the Command exercised by the maritime component.

With this deployment, the Armada has demonstrated its capability to lead naval forces in high-intensity operations, contributing directly to deterrence and collective defense, and ensuring that NATO has forces fully trained, ready, and capable of acting swiftly in the face of any crisis or contingency.

The Spanish participation in ‘Steadfast Dart 26’ represents the Armada's largest contribution to a NATO exercise in 2026, both in terms of size and ambition.