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Spain Flexes Firepower Near Russian Border During NATO’s Forge 2025: Leopard Tanks, NASAMS Deployed
Spain has deployed Leopard 2E tanks, NASAMS air defense systems, and advanced drones to Latvia as part of NATO’s Forge 2025 exercise, showcasing the country’s growing contribution to alliance deterrence efforts on the eastern flank.
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Spain’s Armed Forces joined a major NATO military exercise in Latvia, showcasing some of its most advanced equipment and reinforcing the alliance’s defensive posture in the Baltic region, Spanish General Staff reported on July 11.
According to General Staff, Spanish troops deployed as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence participated in Exercise Forge 2025 at the Ādaži Military Base.
The drill involved units from Spain’s Brigade X “Guzmán el Bueno”, along with support from the Logistic Brigade, Field Artillery Command, and Air Defense Artillery Command.
The Spanish contingent contributed a range of assets to the Canada-led Multinational Battlegroup Latvia (MN BG LVA), including Leopard 2E main battle tanks, Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles, NASAMS air defense systems, and reconnaissance tools like Raven UAVs.
A Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) team was also part of the deployment, operating under Spain’s Operation Flanco Este Letonia XVII and reporting to the Spanish Joint Operations Command (MOPS).
Spanish firepower on display
According to the defense media outlet Army Recognition, the Leopard 2E—a domestically produced variant of the German Leopard 2A6—formed the backbone of Spain’s heavy armor in the exercise.
Designed with additional composite armor and built under General Dynamics European Land Systems at Santa Bárbara Sistemas, the Leopard 2E features the Rheinmetall 120 mm L55 smoothbore cannon, upgraded vision systems by Indra, and a locally built auxiliary power unit by SAPA.
Spain’s Mechanized Tactical Subgroup included two Pizarro sections, one Leopard 2E section, and one support weapons section. These forces performed offensive and defensive company-level maneuvers, including coordinated actions with Polish armored units. Tactics like relay transitions and echeloned advances were emphasized.
Spanish engineers, working jointly with Italian troops, constructed fortified defensive positions including vehicle fighting posts, buried command shelters, and platoon bunkers. They also participated in multinational drills focused on breach opening and obstacle crossing, reinforcing interoperability under NATO doctrine.
A broader NATO training effort
Exercise Forge 2025, also dubbed “War Horse Forge,” brought together forces from across the alliance, including Spain, Italy, Latvia, Canada, the United States, Romania, Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
It builds on previous large-scale drills such as Titan Forge (2023) and Crystal Arrow, evolving into a comprehensive scenario-driven series that hones combined arms coordination, air-ground integration, and logistics under combat conditions.
Spain’s Leopard 2E: from legacy to modernization
Spain began producing the Leopard 2E after canceling its domestic Lince tank program in the 1990s. Under a 1998 agreement with Germany, it acquired 108 Leopard 2A4s and began building 219 Leopard 2E units locally. Full delivery concluded in 2008, Army Recognition notes.
The tank replaced aging AMX-30E and M60 Patton models and has seen action in NATO missions since 2017.
Notable upgrades include thermal imaging systems, the LINCE command architecture, and air conditioning adaptations for harsh environments. Approximately 60% of its components are domestically sourced from defense firms such as Indra, SAPA, Tecnobit, and Electroop.
While initial modernization focused on scheduled maintenance—including a €208 million contract in 2023—Spain has outlined a three-phase roadmap:
Phase 1 (by 2029): Upgrade to 2E M1 standard, modernizing software and replacing outdated subsystems.
Phase 2: Integration of Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) and Active Protection Systems (APS) for greater survivability.
Phase 3 (by 2032): Delivery of 60 fully modernized 2E M2+ units, featuring Rheinmetall L55-A1 cannons, laser warning, mine protection, and advanced smoke screening.
Earlier, Russia had threatened to “neutralize” NATO activities it views as hostile, as the alliance kicks off a series of major military exercises in Lithuania.
In addition, reports emerged that Germany was going to significantly reinforce its tank brigade in Lithuania, expanding the unit from 500 to 5,000 troops by the end of 2027 to bolster NATO’s eastern flank and deter Russia
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-0158b6b681e3668f470de36aedad9e3c.jpg "Russian Su-24 bomber moments before Ukrainian drone strike, Crimea. (Source: HUR)")
