A series of excellent photos of the Spanish Navy on its deployment Dédalo 25-2

From June 17 to July 7, the Spanish Navy carried out the second deployment of its "Dédalo 2025" Expeditionary Combat Group.

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The Defense Staff (EMAD) reported this Monday that this deployment, Dédalo 25-2, has taken place in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in live-fire training areas in Croatia, Slovakia and Romania. The deployment included the participation of 1,850 sailors and the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61, the frigate "Blas de Lezo" F-103 and the combat supply ship (BAC) "Cantabria" A-15 and the landing craft LCM-1E of the Beach Naval Group, in addition to the participation in some exercises of the submarine "Isaac Peral" S-81, the amphibious assault ships (BAA) "Galicia" L-51 and "Castilla" L-52 and the frigate "Santa María" F-81.

The Marine Infantry has contributed to this Expeditionary Combat Group its Second Landing Battalion of the Marine Infantry Brigade "Tercio de Armada" (TEAR).

In addition, the Aircraft Fleet (FLOAN) has participated with its EAV-8B+ Harrier II Plus combat aircraft from the 9th Squadron, SH-60B Seahawk helicopters from the 10th Squadron, SH-60F Seahawk from the 5th Squadron and H-135 P3H Nival from the 12th Squadron.

The Spanish Navy has published 240 photos of this Expeditionary Group on its Flickr account. Some of the photos are of high quality, while others show unusual features. I have selected some of them to publish in this article. You can see the enlarged photos by clicking on them.

An M-109 self-propelled howitzer of the Landing Artillery Group (GAD) of the TEAR in a defiladed position.

The aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" sailing alongside the BAC "Cantabria." On the flight deck of the L-61, we see two helicopters: an SH-60 Seahawk and an H-135 P3H Nival. The photo was taken on July 5.

The frigate "Blas de Lezo" sailing in the fog. A magnificent photo taken on June 21.

Two Marines with an MBDA Mistral short-range surface-to-air missile on the flight deck of one of the ships. Photo taken on June 11. The soldiers belong to the Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battery (BIA MAAL) of the Landing Artillery Group (GAD).

Three Harrier II Plus fighters from the 9th Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I." In the background, at the top of the jump ramp, we can see two Marines. The photo was taken on June 21 in the Spanish city of Ceuta.

Two AAV-7 amphibious vehicles from the TEAR. The one on the left is an AAV-7P personnel carrier, and the one on the left is the only AAV-7R recovery vehicle the TEAR has. Between them, we see the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" in the background.

The "Isaac Peral" S-81 submarine sailing on the surface in a photo taken on June 14. The second submarine of its class, the "Narciso Monturiol" S-82, is scheduled to launch in a few days.

An SH-60F Seahawk helicopter from the 5th Squadron, the HT.23-16, in a photo taken on June 16 aboard the BAA "Castilla" L-52.

A TEAR soldier signals to a Naval Beach Group LCM-1E landing craft carrying two TEAR ST-5 VAMTAC tactical vehicles, in a photo taken July 7.

Two Harrier II Plus fighters parked in the aircraft hangar of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I", with the green lighting for night operations. The photo was taken on June 30.

A Marine Corps sniper aiming a Heckler & Koch HK417 assault rifle in 7.62 x 51 mm NATO caliber, equipped with a telescopic sight.

An H-135 P3H Nival helicopter of the 12th Squadron, the HE.26-48A, making its approach to the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" on June 11.

The aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" with its floodable dock open and illuminated with green light shortly before dawn on July 3. Two Harrier II Plus fighters can be seen parked at the rear of the flight deck.

A gathering of TEAR soldiers on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I". Behind them we see three Harrier II Plus fighters: from left to right, the VA.1B-29, the VA.1B-37, and the VA.1B-38. The photo was taken on June 21 during the Dédalo 25 Expeditionary Combat Group's stopover in Ceuta.

An LCM-1E landing craft of the Naval Beach Group in front of the floodable dock gate of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I", during a night operation on July 6.

An SH-60F helicopter from the 5th Squadron, the HT.23-16, flying alongside the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" while carrying out a refueling maneuver with the BAA "Galicia" L-51. A photo taken on July 6.

The silhouette of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" is reflected in a calm sea in a beautiful photo taken on June 29.

A Spanish FLOAN pilot at the primary flight control of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I", on June 16. This control is located on the port side of the ship's island, overlooking the flight deck. Interestingly, this pilot wears a patch of an Italian Navy AB-212ASW helicopter on his right arm.

A Harrier II Plus fighter from the 9th Squadron, the VA.1B-27 (01-917), approaching the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" to land, in the beautiful light of the sunset on June 28.

A member of the FLOAN in the primary flight control of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I", following the takeover operations on the flight deck of several Harriers II Plus of the 9th Squadron.

A Harrier II Plus of the 9th Squadron, the VA.1B-38 (01-926), approaching the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" to land on the afternoon of June 23. This is one of the Spanish Harriers II that we saw operating on the LHD USS Wasp last year. By enlarging the photo you can see that this aircraft carries a LANTIRN target designator on its ventral mount. Interestingly, the two Harrier II Plus aircraft already on the flight deck carry AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, one each: the first on the port wing and the second on the starboard wing. In the background, we see another Harrier II Plus making its approach.

You can see more photos from this album published by the Spanish Navy here.