Excellent images of an exercise by Spanish soldiers from the MOE, FGNE and EZAPAC

Watching the training of special operations military groups is not always easy, due to the secretive nature of these units.

Spectacular assault exercise by the FGNE on the Spanish Navy's ship 'Carnota'
The Spanish special operations vehicles VLOE Netón of the MOE in Bulgaria

Videos of these exercises are not common and are not usually of the best quality, at least in Spain. But there are exceptions. The American company Persistent Systems (which offers mobile network solutions for the military market) has published two videos on its YouTube channel showing exercises by the Spanish Joint Special Operations Command (MCOE), including operators from the Special Operations Command (MOE), the Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE), and the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC).

The first of these videos was published on December 20th. In the first one, we see several operators (distinguished by insignia from the EZAPAC and various FGNE units) performing a parachute jump from a C-295 transport aircraft of the Spanish Air Force. At the end of the video, we see images of FGNE operators aboard the Spanish Navy's L-52 amphibious assault ship "Castilla."

The second video was published on Saturday. In this case, we see exercises by operators from the Special Operations Command (MOE) and the Special Forces Group (FGNE) with the collaboration of an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter from the 5th Squadron of the Spanish Navy (HT.23-15, 01-1016), based in Rota (Cádiz), and an NH90 "Lobo" helicopter from the 803 Squadron (Wing 48) of the Spanish Air Force (HD.29-21, 803-21), based in Getafe (Madrid). At the end of the video, we see two VAMTAC ST-5s with 81mm EIMOS mortars from the Spanish Marine Infantry, opening fire at dusk and at night.

The images we see in these videos were recorded during Exercise JFX/MDO-25, conducted by 500 Spanish military personnel at the end of November at the Retamares Base in Madrid and the El Retín Training Area in Cádiz. During the exercise, MPU-5 radios and cameras, as well as satellite equipment for connecting 5G networks, were tested to facilitate command and control of military operations, providing real-time images of special operators' activities. Electronic warfare exercises were also carried out to test the resilience of this equipment.

Below you can see some screenshots from both videos with information about what we see in them. These first nine correspond to the first video from December 20th.

The only two-seater TAV-8B Harrier II of the 9th Squadron of the Navy, the VA.1B-40, with a beautiful decoration on its tail alluding to its unit.

Two FGNE operators checking their jump equipment.

Two other Spanish operators wearing Multicam camouflage uniforms and jump gear. The operator on the right is wearing the patch of the 2nd "Almogávar" Battalion of the FGNE.

An operator collecting his parachute after landing. He is wearing the EZAPAC patch on his right arm.

The amphibious assault ship "Castilla" L-52 in the final part of the first video.

An FGNE operator on the flight deck of the L-52. He wears the patch of the 1st Estol "Comandos".

Another FGNE operator wearing a patch displaying the unit's emblem. This operator is wearing the Spanish M09 pixelated arid camouflage pattern uniform.

Two FGNE operators emerging from the water on a beach. The one on the left is carrying a 5.56mm Heckler & Koch HK416A5 carbine, a very popular weapon among special operations units. The following nine screenshots are from the second video.

An operator from the Special Operations Unit (UOE) of the Spanish Army Special Operations Command (MOE) with his dog, Lucas. The UOE, nicknamed "Los Patanegra" (The Blacklegs), formerly known as UOE2 (to distinguish it from the Navy unit of the same name that gave rise to the FGNE), is the level one unit of the Army Special Operations Command. In the background of the photo, we see the SH-60F Seahawk helicopter HT.23-15 01-1016 of the Navy's 5th Squadron.

Three operators from the UOE of the MOE. All three are armed with 5.56 mm caliber Heckler & Koch G36K carbines. The operator on the left wears the UOE patch on his arm: a wolf's head over the MOE emblem (a Spanish machete surrounded by two oak branches), and in the background the Cross of Burgundy, the former flag of the Spanish Empire.

The NH90 "Lobo" HD.29-21 helicopter, 803-21) of the 803 Squadron (Wing 48) of the Air Force that took part in this exercise.

An FGNE operator during a building assault. He is armed with a Heckler & Koch HK416A5 carbine. On his right arm he wears the patch of the 3rd Stol "Comanfes".

A UOE operator from the MOE armed with an HK416A5 carbine aboard the SH-60F helicopter of the 5th Squadron of the Navy that took part in this exercise.

A Boston Dynamics SPOT quadruped robot, alongside the tracked autonomous vehicle used for its deployment. It is an example of the modern technological resources used in this exercise.

Four UOE operators from the MOE conducting a search of a Volkswagen Amarok SUV belonging to the Marine Corps. The operator on the left is wearing a black patch with the UOE emblem on his right arm.

The SH-60F Seahawk helicopter HT.23-15, 01-1016 of the 5th Squadron of the Spanish Navy landing at the El Retín Training Area, Cádiz, during the exercise. On the right, we see a UOE operator from the MOE with his dog, next to another participant in the exercise wearing a bite-resistant suit.

A VAMTAC ST-5 of the Marine Corps' Third (TEAR) equipped with an 81mm Expal EIMOS mortar, at the moment of firing during this exercise at the El Retín Training Camp.

+ UPDATED 17.1.2026 20:23h: Persistent Systems has published today the final video in this series, in which we see more images of this exercise with operators from the MOE and the FGNE: