Key data
| Regulation | Resolution 420/38334/2026, of July 21, of the General Technical Secretariat — Agreement between the Ministry of Defense / Xunta of Galicia for the prevention of forest fires, 2026 campaign |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 28, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 28, 2026 |
| Operational period | August 10 – September 25, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Galician regional administration, Armed Forces (Army and Navy) and forest areas of Galicia |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Total amount | €593,815.32 |
| Financer | Xunta of Galicia (full cost) |
Galicia will deploy 35 military ground patrols in its highest-risk forest areas during the summer of 2026. The Ministry of Defense and the Xunta of Galicia have formalized their annual collaboration through the Resolution 420/38334/2026, published in the BOE on July 28, 2026. The total cost of the operation, €593,815.32, is borne exclusively by the Galician regional government.
This agreement is the budgetary expression of a consolidated annual collaboration between both administrations. The operational novelty of 2026 is the explicit incorporation of the possibility of using drones at no additional cost for surveillance and deterrence tasks.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement regulates collaboration between the Ministry of Defense and the Xunta of Galicia for the prevention of forest fires during the 2026 summer campaign. Its main elements are:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Military resources deployed | 35 ground patrols from the Army and Navy |
| Support teams | 2 mobile maintenance teams |
| Additional means | Drones, at no additional cost to the Xunta |
| Assigned functions | Surveillance and deterrence in predefined areas |
| Activation period | August 10 – September 25, 2026 |
| Maximum agreement amount | €593,815.32 |
| Financed concepts | Performance incentives for personnel, indemnities and vehicle maintenance |
| Payment structure | Two installments: advance after agreement registration + settlement before October 15, 2026 |
| Coordination body | Monitoring Commission (can reassign areas and resources according to fire risk evolution) |
The Monitoring Commission is the flexibility mechanism of the operation: it can redistribute patrols and reassign areas based on how fire risk evolves during the campaign. This allows an adaptive response without the need to formally modify the agreement.
Economic and operational impact
The disbursement of €593,815.32 by the Xunta of Galicia is distributed across three major expense categories:
- Performance incentives for military personnel: additional remuneration for personnel deployed during the campaign.
- Indemnities: compensation for relocation and special conditions of the operation.
- Vehicle maintenance: operational costs of the ground fleet used in the patrols.
The cost per day of operation is around €12,634 daily (€593,815.32 ÷ 47 days), or approximately €361 per patrol per day (35 patrols). The use of drones, included at no additional cost, represents significant added value compared to what external contracting would cost.
The two-installment payment scheme—initial advance and settlement before October 15—allows the Ministry of Defense to cover current expenses during the operation without assuming financial risk, while the Xunta retains the ability to adjust the final settlement to actual costs incurred.
Who does it affect?
- Xunta of Galicia: assumes the full cost of €593,815.32 and coordinates deployment areas through the Monitoring Commission.
- Ministry of Defense / Army and Navy: provide human and material resources (35 patrols + 2 maintenance teams + drones).
- Forest managers and forest owners in Galicia: the predefined surveillance areas directly affect landowners in higher-risk areas.
- Forest and fire suppression service companies: the military operation complements (does not replace) civil prevention and suppression means.
- Galician local administrations: municipalities in areas included in the predefined zones will receive the deterrent effect of the patrols.
Practical example
Imagine you are responsible for budget planning in the competent department of the Xunta of Galicia. The agreement requires you to plan for two treasury outflows before the end of fiscal year 2026:
- Advance installment: paid after the agreement is registered (after July 28, 2026). This amount covers the start of the operation on August 10.
- Settlement installment: must be paid before October 15, 2026, once the campaign concludes on September 25 and actual costs for personnel, indemnities and vehicles are verified.
If the Monitoring Commission detects, for example, that risk is concentrated in a specific region during the second half of August, it can reassign patrols from lower-risk areas without modifying the agreement or the maximum amount of €593,815.32. Operational flexibility is guaranteed without additional budgetary impact.
What should administrations do now?
- Xunta of Galicia — Competent department: verify that the agreement has been registered in the corresponding registry to activate the advance payment without delay.
- Regional budget planning managers: reserve the settlement allocation and ensure that the final payment is executed before October 15, 2026.
- Monitoring Commission: establish a schedule of monitoring meetings during the campaign (August 10 – September 25) to activate area reassignments if risk evolves.
- Participating military units (Army and Navy): confirm the availability of the 35 patrol teams and 2 mobile maintenance teams before August 10.
- Forest managers in predefined areas: coordinate with regional authorities to learn about assigned surveillance areas and adapt their prevention plans to the military operation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Defense-Xunta agreement cost for forest fires in Galicia in 2026?
The maximum amount of the agreement is €593,815.32, financed entirely by the Xunta of Galicia. This amount covers performance incentives for military personnel, indemnities and vehicle maintenance during the operational period from August 10 to September 25, 2026.
How many military patrols are deployed in Galicia during summer 2026?
35 ground patrols from the Army and Navy are deployed, supported by 2 mobile maintenance teams. Additionally, the agreement allows the use of drones for surveillance at no additional cost to the Xunta.
When is the agreement paid and what are the deadlines?
Payment is structured in two installments: a first advance installment paid after the agreement is registered (from July 28, 2026) and a second settlement installment that must be paid before October 15, 2026, once the campaign concludes on September 25.
Who decides where the military patrols and can it be changed during the campaign?
Surveillance areas are predefined in the agreement, but the Monitoring Commission has the authority to reassign areas and resources based on the evolution of fire risk during the campaign, without the need to formally modify the agreement or the maximum amount.
Who assumes the cost of the military operation, the State or the Xunta of Galicia?
The Xunta of Galicia assumes the full cost of the operation, up to the ceiling of €593,815.32. The Ministry of Defense provides human and material resources (patrols, maintenance teams and drones), but financing is borne exclusively by the Galician regional government.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16421