Ocean Sky 25

Report and photos by Łukasz Lipka

December 23, 2025

In the second half of October, the Gando Air Base (Base Aérea de Gando) once again hosted the largest Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) exercise, the well-known Ocean Sky. Starting as a national exercise, it has, over the years, brought in more international participants and strengthened its position as one of the most complex and significant exercises in Europe. This year’s edition, held from 15 October to 31 October, was the largest to date, with the participation of six countries.

The history of the exercise in Gando began in 2004, when the first DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) exercise took place with the participation of Spanish units. Over the years, DACT evolved into the multinational, complex exercise known today as Ocean Sky.

Indian Air Force deployed its Su-30MKI to Gando, making it the first non-NATO nation to participate in the Ocean Sky

The primary objective of Ocean Sky 25 was to prepare aircrews for air-superiority missions, including both Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) and Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) operations, with up to 40 aircraft flying simultaneously. Moreover, the exercise was also designed to strengthen tactical leadership, improve coordination, and enhance interoperability among the participating nations.

Ocean Sky 25 was led and organised by the Air Combat Command (Mando Aéreo de Combate – MACOM), with Gando Air Base serving as the operational lead and Lanzarote Air Base providing additional support. This year’s edition brought together a total of 51 aircraft from six countries. On the Spanish side, participating units included Ala 11 and Ala 14 with their Eurofighter Typhoons, Ala 12 and Ala 15 flying EF-18M Hornets, and Ala 46 operating F/A-18A fighters, along with CN-235 and AS-332 aircraft.

Foreign participants included German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 (TLG 74), Hellenic Air Force F-16s from 347 Mira, Portuguese Air Force F-16s from Esquadra 201, and USAF F-15s from the 492nd Squadron at RAF Lakenheath. The most unexpected presence came from the Indian Air Force, which deployed Su-30MKI fighters from the 24th Squadron, marking the first time a non-NATO nation has taken part in the exercise. Supporting the multinational aircrews were several key Spanish units, including GRUALERCON, GRUCEMAC, GRUNOMAC, EADA, SEADA, GRUMOCA, CIGES, and the Guardia Real.

Several aircraft taking part in the exercise featured special liveries. One of the most notable was a German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon from TLG 74 in a tiger scheme, prepared for the NATO Tiger Meet exercise held a few weeks before Ocean Sky

The location of the exercise in the Canary Archipelago offers an ideal environment for such complex training. The combination of low air traffic and generally stable weather allows sorties to be carried out safely across a vast airspace. The exercise was conducted in the area south of the Canary Islands, with altitudes ranging from 2,000 ft AMSL to unlimited. This setting provided the space and flexibility needed to carry out realistic and challenging missions.

The scenario for this year’s exercise involved a fictional geopolitical situation featuring three countries: Bluceronia (BLU) – a friendly nation (Blue), Feroxia (FER) – the aggressor (Red), and Neutinex (NEU) – a neutral country. The conflict centered on a disputed oil basin, with tensions escalating over the valuable mining deposit located in the area.

In combination with Ocean Sky, the EART (European Air Refuelling Training), organised by EATC (European Air Transport Command), was held at Lanzarote Air Base (Base Aérea de Lanzarote). Since its 2021 edition, EART has been integrated with Ocean Sky, supporting complex multinational air operations and enhancing mission readiness during the exercise. Tankers participating this year included the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) KC-767A, French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’air et de l’espace) A330MRTT, Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) A400M, and NATO MMU (Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit) A330MRTT, which participated only during the first week of the exercise due to other operational commitments.

Italian Air Force KC-767A was among the tanker aircraft participating in EART 25 and supporting the missions for Ocean Sky

Ocean Sky 25 once again proved to be a vital part of NATO training, providing an ideal setting for complex multinational air operations. The exercise played a key role in enhancing interoperability among participating nations, sharpening air combat skills, and strengthening military relationships. With the integration of the European Air Refuelling Training (EART) and participation of a diverse mix of aircraft from six countries, exercise Ocean Sky 25 demonstrated the value of coordinated, realistic, and challenging training in a strategically important region.