Ala 12 based at Torrejon AB and Ala 15 at Zaragoza AB operate the EF-18M Hornet, while Ala 46 based at Gando AB in Gran Canaria continues to fly the F/A-18A jets acquired second-hand from the US Navy.

Day and night, the new alert hangars house two aircraft and their crews at readiness to scramble. The alert mission is rotated with Eurofighter, Mirage F1 and other EF-18 units.

With the MLU almost complete, the capabilities of the two EF-18M wings have greatly increased. Here, Ala 12 EF-18Ms taxi in after an overseas deployment.

Hornets from Torrejon took part in the Tactical Leadership Programme course 2010-3 at Albacete, together with Ala 14 Mirage F1Ms. Despite budgetary restrictions, studies are under way for possible participation in an upcoming Red Flag or Green Flag exercise in the United States.

The AIM-9L Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM continue to be the most numerous air-to-air missiles with the EdA fighter units.

Lt Col Luis Villar is the commander of the Ala 12 Operations Group.

Among the improvements introduced by the MLU is the ability to use the centreline station for stores other than a tank, including the Litening targeting pod as carried on this EF-18M. The aircraft is also carrying an IRIS-T missile, also introduced with the MLU, on the wing tip pylon.

THE EF-18M MID-LIFE UPGRADE

The original alert hangars date back to when Torrejon de Ardoz AB was built. Today they no longer house alert jets, since the realignment of the runway demanded construction of a new facility.

Most maintenance takes place at unit level. The exception is third-level overhaul, which is undertaken either by Airbus Military at Getafe or at the Albacete Maestranza Aerea (Air Logistics Centre).

The Ejercito del Aire has traditionally not decorated aircraft in celebration, but of late the practice has become more common. Hornet C.15-34 received this scheme for the 50th anniversary of Ala 12.

The EF-18M will continue to be the cornerstone of the Ejercito del Aire until the Eurofighter Typhoon achieves full operational capability. With the modernisation it has already received, plus future updates under study, the EF-18 could become the longest-serving fighter in the EdA.

Torrejon's 05/23 runway was shifted north in order to avoid conflict with the nearby Barajas International Airport. The original runway is now out of use and is clearly marked with large 'X' letters painted on the original runway, denoting it as inactive. Aggressive turns after take-off are common when runway 23 is in use.