Spain handed over a new building to NATO on 28 June to host one of the Alliance`s Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOC). These centres supervise air defence and carry out air policing functions.

The new CAOC-8, based in Torrejon near Madrid, was inaugurated on 28 June during a ceremony which was presided by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Air Force, General Gallarza. General Rubio is the commander of CAOC-8, which comes under the command of COMAIRSOUTH. It is run by specialists in offensive, defensive and support air operations, as well as intelligence and communication personnel. It will replaced by a similar centre in 2007 -known as CARS- which will also benefit from means of command and control.