Friday 22 January marked the end of the current deployment with Operation Atalanta for the Spanish D-4 Vigma Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA). The aircraft has been replaced by a Spanish Air Force P-3.
The D-4 Vigma crew received their farewell from the Spanish Detachment Commander in Djibouti, Lieutenant Commander Santiago Ibarreta, who congratulated them on their successful two-month deployment in the area of operations.
The D-4 Vigma aircraft is the maritime patrol version of the Spanish-made, twin engine, tactical airlifter C-235.
During its time on task, the aircraft was Operation Atalanta’s ‘eyes in the sky’, with regular reconnaissance flights along the Somali coast line providing the Force Commander at sea with important information about any potential pirate activity in the area of operations.
Spain has contributed warships, aircraft and military personnel to Operation Atalanta – the European Union’s counter-piracy operation, since it was launched in December 2008. The Spanish MPRA is based in Djibouti.