THE Basic Air Academy It is located at the center of one of the most significant transformations that the León Air Base has seen in decades. Following the announcement of new strategic lines to strengthen the capabilities of the Air and Space Force, the installation assumes a consolidation scenario which will mark its operational activity for years to come. The conversion of the old airfield into a fully functional air base has opened a stage where planning, modernization and increased resources become essential elements.
The process takes place at a time when plans are underway to expand training, incorporate new unmanned aerial systems and internal reorganization to support the increase in military personnel. All this represents additional pressure for a center which, historically, has distinguished itself by its training role, but which must now take on broader operational functions.
The increase in the number of students and the expansion of capacities
One of the most immediate challenges is the increase in student numbers anticipated by the Air and Space Force. The target is 900 new NCOs who will receive training at La Virgen del Camino facilities. This increase directly affects available resources, as it requires expanding educational spaces, accommodation areas, and in-person and virtual teaching systems.
According to the academy’s management, this process requires sustained investment in infrastructure to maintain academic quality standards. The adaptation seeks not only to accommodate a larger number of students, but also to integrate new skills associated with emerging technologies, advanced weapon systems and the progressive digitalization of military procedures.
Training according to new missions
The Air Force has repeatedly emphasized that professional profiles must be adapted to more complex missions and international scenarios that require speed, precision and technological mastery. Thus, the training received at the academy will integrate new specific modules, intended for the management of unmanned aircraft, tactical communications and the maintenance of sophisticated systems.
The gradual introduction of these subjects will allow future non-commissioned officers to integrate more effectively into units that already operate with advanced means, such as those of air surveillance, intelligence missions or support for joint operations.
León Air Base: a structural transformation
Since its official designation as an air base last March, the installation has begun a process that is more than just a nominal change. The transformation involves the reorganization of personnel, adaptation to new operational responsibilities and the strengthening of resources intended to guarantee operation in accordance with the current needs of the Air and Space Force.
The Colonel Director stressed the importance of this moment, emphasizing that the base must be ready to assume functions that go beyond the traditional training dimension. This change constitutes a strategic opportunity to recover capabilities that had been reduced over the last century and which once again position León as a relevant enclave for national defense.
The arrival of Sirtap and its impact on the base
One of the most decisive elements of this transformation is the arrival of the tactical drone sirtapplanned for 2027. This system, developed as a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft, will allow the León Air Base to recover first-level operational activity. Its dimensions, which exceed seven meters in length and more than twelve in wingspan, require specific infrastructure for its safe operation.
The Ministry of Defense has already launched a call for tenders for the construction of three new hangars for the maintenance and storage of the Sirtap, as well as taxiways that will be connected to the main runway. The investment, close to eight million euros for the hangars and more than 19 million for the paved streets, shows the extent of the institutional commitment to this project.
The implementation of Sirtap will also mean the creation of Group 24, a unit specialized in the operation of these drones within the Air Force. At the same time, the Army will have its own Sirtap systems, operated by the Air Systems Acquisition Group (Grosa), attached to the Valencia Intelligence Regiment but with direct activity in the León facilities.
Infrastructure that redefines military operations
The development of these new capabilities requires rethinking the configuration of the base. The planned work must allow smooth operation between the different military units that will share the facilities. The new taxiways, which must in certain cases surround part of the enclosure, will allow Sirtap to more easily access the take-off and landing area without hindering educational activity.
Furthermore, the expected increase in student numbers will also require the construction of additional accommodation, simulation spaces, maintenance areas and classrooms connected to digital learning technologies. All this will allow the base to integrate, in the same space, advanced teaching and air operations functions.
A robust response to recent emergencies
This year the base demonstrated its ability to adapt quickly to unforeseen demands, such as the response to the DANA that affected Valencia or the active participation in the fight against the fires that devastated the northwest of the peninsula. In both cases, the deployed personnel demonstrated a high level of preparation and versatility, fundamental elements to face future challenges.
These episodes reinforced the institutional recognition of the León Air Base, which transformed in a few days from an airfield with limited functions to a fully active air base, managing resources, aircraft and personnel in case of emergency.
A future marked by operational ambition
The combination of greater training capacity, new infrastructures and the entry into service of Sirtap configures a horizon in which the Basic Air Academy It will play a central role in the national defense model. The base is preparing to integrate technology, highly qualified personnel and specialized units that will consolidate its relevance on the strategic map of Spain.
The process is not without challenges, but the planned investments, internal reorganization and institutional commitment to capacity building point to a sustainable growth scenario. All this places León as a reference point for the evolution of unmanned systems and for the training of non-commissioned officers of the Air and Space Force.
In this context, the Basic Air Academy is heading towards a decisive stage in its consolidation as the León Air Base, combining training tradition, technological innovation and operational commitment that will mark its immediate future.
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