The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has recently awarded a contract to Zodiac MilPro International for the acquisition of 13 new rigid hulled inflatable boats for the Spanish Navy’s Marine Corps. The new boats, designed to support amphibious operations, will facilitate special operations maritime task units, counter piracy operations and anti-drug operations. Being a member of the Naval Logistics Support Partnership (NLSP), Spain benefits from the logistics advantages and the economies of scale generated in a number of recent projects delivered by NSPA. This new acquisition is the most recent example of the support provided to the Spanish Navy. The boats will be delivered between March 2022 and January 2023, including trailers, static cradles for storage, and will be fully equipped with warfighting capabilities. They will also include a logistics support package of training, optional spares, and a full technical data package.
NSPA is currently in the process of delivering another 24 rigid hulled inflatable boats, intended for search and rescue operations and personnel transfers to the Spanish Navy. Other recent activities include the delivery of a fire fighting truck for amphibious carrier flight deck operations, maintenance activities for the Spanish submarines, the contracting and delivery of various remotely operated vehicles, and the procurement of a diverse selection of spares. In addition, the Agency is currently engaged in the acquisition of a deck decompression chamber, underwater telephones for submarines, and a side scan sonar system, on behalf of the Spanish Navy. Through its Naval Support Section, NSPA provides technical and operational support to the 20 navies of the Naval Logistic Support Partnership, delivering projects and meeting supply requirements in home port, and providing port services worldwide to ships under way.
The Spanish Naval Infantry (Spanish: Infantería de Marina; lit) is the naval infantry unit of the Spanish Navy (Armada Española) responsible for conducting amphibious warfare by utilizing naval platforms and resources. They would be the boarding party as well as man the cannons, The Marine Corps is fully integrated into the Armada’s structure. The Corps was formed in 1537 by Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor), making it the oldest marine corps in existence in the world, drawing from the Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles. The Spanish Marine Infantry have been deployed to various NATO operations such as Afghanistan. The Marines of Spain are not only a fleet force, as the Spanish Royal Marine Guard Company are responsible for the defense and security forces of naval bases and facilities, naval schools and training units, and all facilities that support the Marines themselves.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (French: L’Agence OTAN de soutien et d’acquisition), abbreviated to NSPA, is the main logistics and procurement agency of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and is the executive branch of the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO), formerly NATO Maintenance and Supply Organization (NAMSO). Until 2012, the tasks were organised with the NATO Supply Agency and other institutions. It has about 1200 employees in Luxembourg, France, Italy and Hungary. On 1 April 2015, organisation and structure of NSPO and NSPA changed. This change marks the expansion of Agency capabilities to include all aspects of systems procurement from initial acquisition throughout sustainment. The headquarter of NSPA is situated in the town of Capellen, in the commune of Mamer, in south-western Luxembourg.
