Felipe VI presides in Vigo over the Armed Forces Day parade alongside Leonor in her debut at this military event

Vigo becomes this Saturday the great showcase of the Spanish army with the celebration of the central parade of the Armed Forces Day, presided over by kings Felipe VI and Letizia. The event gathers nearly 3,700 military personnel, 70 aircraft, more than one hundred vehicles and dozens of motorcycles on a 1.1-kilometer route along Samil avenue.

The great novelty of this edition is the presence of Princess Leonor, who participates for the first time in this institutional act as part of her military training. The heir to the throne is currently completing her instruction at the General Air and Space Academy of San Javier, after having passed through Zaragoza and Marín, thus consolidating her future role as captain general of the Armed Forces.

The parade will start at noon with the arrival of the monarchs at the royal stand, where they will receive military honors before reviewing the Battalion of Honors. Subsequently, one of the most anticipated moments will take place: the parachute jump in front of the stand with the flag of Spain, starring this year by Second Lieutenant Alberto Vidal and First Sergeant Pablo García Matanza, both linked to Galicia.

After the tribute to the fallen and the hoisting of the national flag, the Mirlo Formation will dye the sky with the colors of the Spanish ensign in substitution of the historic Patrulla Águila. This new acrobatic group is made up of flight instructors from the General Air and Space Academy and operates with the modern Pilatus PC-21.

The air parade will feature fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters, while the ground section will exhibit units of the Guardia Real, Army, Navy, Air Force, Guardia Civil and the UME. In total, 130 horses, six military dogs and the popular Baraka goat of the Legion will parade, one of the most striking symbols of the event.

Among the attending authorities are the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles; the JEMAD, Teodoro Esteban López Calderón; the Chiefs of Staff of the three armies; and the mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, in addition to other civilian and military representatives.