King Felipe VI is set to return to Andalucia next week to oversee cutting-edge military exercises and get a first-hand look at the army of the future.
The monarch will visit Almeria on April 16, where he is expected to observe drills involving the Spanish Legion as part of the ambitious ‘Fuerza 35’ project, described as a major overhaul of Spain’s armed forces.
The initiative is centred around an experimental brigade designed to transform how the army fights, with a strong focus on modern warfare, including the use of drones, artificial intelligence and advanced battlefield technologies.
It will mark Felipe’s first time presiding over a major Legion exercise in the province in five years, after a previous visit in 2021 during the pandemic, when the project was still in its early stages.
This time, the showcase is expected to highlight how far the programme has come, with Spain’s military now testing next-generation combat systems, including robotic units, electronic warfare tools and state-of-the-art armoured vehicles.
The exercises will take place at the Alvarez de Sotomayor training ground in Viator, one of the army’s key testing hubs, where new technologies are trialled under real combat conditions.
Officials say the visit underlines the king’s ongoing support for the armed forces and Spain’s push to modernise its military capabilities amid evolving global threats.
The province has become a key centre for innovation in defence in recent years, with continuous testing ranging from ground troop tactics to high-level command systems.
Felipe VI has visited Almeria several times in recent years, including for military exercises and official engagements.
In 2020, he presided over the centenary of the Spanish Legion, while in 2021 he returned to present a major business award to entrepreneur Francisco Martínez-Cosentino.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
