OCEAN SKY and EART 2025 were hosted in the Canary Islands, Spain, from October 15 to 31, 2025, representing one of Europe’s most advanced multinational air combat and air mobility cooperation events. These concurrent exercises showcased Europe’s operational readiness, innovation, and coalition strength in a strategically vital southern region. MAR was present to report on both events and was also invited by EATC to attend the media day for EART which included boarding a Spanish Air Force A400M to witness AAR operations.
OCEAN SKY 2025: Premier Combat Training in the Canaries
The Spanish Air and Space Force led OCEAN SKY 2025 from Gando Air Base, with support from Lanzarote. More than 50 aircraft participated, including:
Key supporting Spanish units included GRUALERCON, GRUCEMAC, GRUNOMAC, EADA, SEADA, GRUMOCA, CIGES, and the Guardia Real.
The Hellenic Air Force participated with four F-16s from 347 Squadron (347M) of the 111th Combat Wing, based at Nea Anchialos Air Base.
Ocean Sky 2025 marked a historic milestone with the first-ever participation of the Indian Air Force’s Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30 from 24 Squadron ‘Hawks’ based at Bareilly AFS. This involvement made India the first non-NATO nation to take part in the exercise and served as one of the most notable tactical highlights of this year’s edition.
Training Missions and Operational Goals
Ocean Sky 2025 transformed the southern Canary skies into a vast operational theatre, where multinational forces trained under demanding, highly realistic conditions. The stable weather and low air traffic density uniquely empowered complex large-force scenarios. After initial FAM flights for familiarization, the two-week main exercise focused on:
- Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) mission sets
- Leadership in tactic execution and interoperability
- Simulated aerial engagements between large combined air forces
The emphasis was on strengthening interoperability, tactical leadership, and international cooperation to secure European skies collectively.
Spain reaffirmed its commitment to operational excellence and multinational partnership, demonstrating readiness to defend both its own and allied airspace.
EART 2025: Agile Refuelling and Strategic Mobility
Running alongside OCEAN SKY, the European Air Refuelling Training (EART) 2025 was hosted from Lanzarote under the coordination of the European Air Transport Command (EATC). EART 2025 represents a cornerstone event in the evolution of multinational air-to-air refuelling operations and interoperability.–
Exercise Focus and Strategic Innovations
EART 2025 brought together tanker and transport assets from multiple allied nations, advancing mission readiness and refining advanced air-to-air refuelling tactics within a dynamic, high-tempo training environment. Key participants included France (A330 MRTT), Italy (KC-767), Spain (A400M), and the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU, A330 MRTT).–
The exercise was notable for advancing EATC’s innovation and sustainability goals, notably via the Lighthouse Project’s X-maintenance pillar, which encourages cross-national collaboration in aircraft maintenance and reinforces operational resilience. The introduction of a Combined Air Terminal Operation (CATO) in Lanzarote further optimized logistics, maximizing throughput and coordination among all participant nations. Building on previous successes such as EART 2024 in Alaska, EART 2025 is a testament to allied commitment to strategic mobility, operational readiness, and seamless collaboration across theatres.–
Scenarios, Area of Operations, and Training Impact
The exercise operated in the airspace south of Lanzarote, providing a realistic setting from 2000 ft AMSL to unlimited altitude for unrestricted multinational training. It featured a robust force composition: over 50 fighter jets and 4 tanker types, supported by 140 personnel operating at least two combat-ready crews per aircraft. More than 600 tons of fuel were planned for offload during 58 sorties, simulating NATO-standard tactics and complex refuelling scenarios relevant for modern coalition warfare.–
The training included academic e-learning and hands-on activities that fostered adaptive, collective expertise—addressing both basic and advanced crew needs and supporting the integration of crews from India, NATO, and beyond.–
The exercise was set within a fictional geopolitical scenario dividing the region into three countries: Bluceronia (BLU), a democratic and friendly nation; Feroxia (FER), an aggressive single-party regime; and Neutinex (NEU), a neutral country maintaining close ties with Feroxia. The scenario was driven by escalating tensions stemming from a contested mining deposit and oil basin stretching across the borders of Bluceronia and Feroxia, forming the central conflict backdrop for the exercise.
AAR Clearances
For air-to-air refuelling operations, each aircraft must be certified and approved to receive fuel from specific tanker types. Not all fighter aircraft can refuel from every available tanker; certification ensures compatibility and safety during refuelling. For example, as indicated in the table below, a Spanish EF2000 can receive fuel from an Italian KC-767, but a German Air Force EF2000 is not certified to refuel from that tanker. The goal of the European Air Transport Command (EATC) is to achieve full certification and clearance across all partner nations and their respective tankers, thereby enhancing interoperability and operational flexibility among allied forces.
Strategic and Multinational Value
Both EART and OCEAN SKY powerfully demonstrated the importance of interoperable, coalition-based training to meet the evolving demands of European and allied air combat operations. The participation of the Indian Air Force for the first time, together with the implementation of NATO-standard procedures, marked the growing global reach and complexity of the exercise. EART 2025 firmly underscores Europe’s drive to maintain agile, interoperable, and future-ready air mobility—unifying tanker and transport crews in pursuit of operational excellence.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to the Spanish Air Force and the European Air Transport Command for accepting us to cover EART 2025, allowing documentation of these world-class multinational missions and the operational partnerships that continue to secure Europe’s airspace.
OCEAN SKY and EART 2025 stand as living proof of Europe’s and its partners’ professionalism, interoperability, and dedication to tactical innovation over the Atlantic and beyond.
