From 17 to 22 November 2024, the Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Centre of Excellence (C-IED COE) participated in Exercise Valiant Blaster, held annually in Cádiz and organized by the Spanish Marine Brigade as part of its comprehensive training program.
The exercise focused on maintaining and enhancing Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capabilities essential to the ongoing fight against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). It brought together EOD units from the Spanish Armed Forces, including the Navy, Army, and Air and Space Forces, as well as Allied nations and various law enforcement agencies.
The primary objective of the exercise was to strengthen interoperability among participating EOD units and promote the exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), with particular emphasis on the “Defeat the Device” pillar of the counter-IED (C-IED) approach.
As a recognized centre of expertise, the C-IED COE contributed to the exercise through the involvement of specialists from its Defeat the Device branch. Additionally, the Centre delivered an updated briefing on emerging threats across current operational theatres where Spanish and Allied forces are deployed.
Realistic training scenarios, developed using operational data, provided participants with opportunities to engage a wide spectrum of IED threats including command-detonated devices, victim-activated devices, suicide vests, and vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs). These scenarios enabled participants to apply and refine a variety of TTPs, integrating EOD operations with Level 1 Technical Exploitation, Weapons Intelligence Team (WIT) activities, and Conventional and C-IED EOD (CCEOD) contributions to the intelligence cycle.
Through its continued involvement in exercises such as Valiant Blaster, the C-IED COE reaffirms its commitment to delivering relevant and updated training, supporting interagency and multinational collaboration, and maintaining its role as a key reference point in the fight against IEDs.
