Military of the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are an autonomous community of Spain. The headquarters of the Canary Islands military command is located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Palacio de la Capitanía General de Canarias. The following components of the Spanish Armed Forces are based in the Canary Islands:

Spanish Army

16th Light Infantry Brigade “Canarias” (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) composed of three light infantry regiments, one artillery regiement, an air defence regiment, an integral helicopter battalion and other supporting elements.[1]

Subordinate units include:

Spanish Air and Space Force

Mando Aéreo de Canarias Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas - Gando Air Base (GCLP)
Rwy 03L/21R, 03R/21L
27° 55' 49.001 N 15° 23' 4.999 W
Elev: 77 ft.
Ala/Grupo
(Wing/Group)		 Escuadrón
(Squadron)		 Aircraft Type Codes

Ala 46
462 Esc.
802 Esc.		McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (22 aircraft)
Eurocopter Cougar (3 aircraft)
CN-235 VIGMA (3 aircraft)[9]		46-01
-
802-10

The 46th Wing is to convert from the F-18 Hornet to the Tranche 4 Eurofighter Typhoon starting in 2026.[10][11]

Spanish Navy

There are seven local commands under the main Naval Command of the Canary Islands.

  • Naval Command of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  • Naval Command of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  • Minor Naval Command of Santa Cruz de la Palma
  • Minor Naval Command of Hierro
  • Minor Naval Command of San Sebastián de la Gomera
  • Minor Naval Command of Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura)
  • Minor Naval Command of Arrecife de Lanzarote

Las Palmas Naval Base

The following vessels are assigned to Las Palmas Naval Base;

Marine Infantry

Units of the Marine Infantry are based in the Canary Islands. The Canarias Security Unit (USCAN) includes a security company and naval police company.[13]

Civil Guard

Elements of the Civil Guard and the National Police are also deployed in the territory for purposes of both border and internal security. The Civil Guard includes a maritime component and, as of 2020, at least two patrol boats and a national police helicopter were forward-deployed to Senegal to assist in stemming illegal migrant traffic to the Canary Islands.[14]

References
  1. "Brigada "CANARIAS" XVI". Ministerio de Defensa.
  2. "Regimiento de Infantería "Soria" nº 9". Ministerio de Defensa.
  3. "Regimiento de Infantería "Tenerife" Nº 49". Ministerio de Defensa.
  4. "Regimiento de Infantería "Canarias" Nº 50". Ministerio de Defensa.
  5. "Ejercicio BETA "DRAGO I/22"". Ministerio de Defensa.
  6. "Regimiento de Artillería de Campaña nº 93". Ministerio de Defensa.
  7. "Regimiento de Artilleria Antiaérea 94". Ministerio de Defensa.
  8. "ISLAND HOPPERS – BHELMA VI". Ridder.zero. 27 October 2016.
  9. "Spanish Air Force Organization". Military Analizer.
  10. "Spanish Air Force Orders 20 Eurofighter Typhoon Jets for Canary Islands". MilitaryLeak. 23 June 2022.
  11. "ILA 2022: Spain signs for Halcon Eurofighters". Janes. 23 June 2022.
  12. "Meteoro class offshore patrol vessels of the Spanish Navy". Naval Analyses. 10 October 2014.
  13. "Infantería de Marina de España: las unidades que la componen y sus medios materiales". Defensa Aviacion. 27 February 2023.
  14. "Spain-Senegal relations: beyond the repatriation agreement". Atalayar. 30 November 2020.
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