Command: Modern Operations: Stage a hypothetical Spain vs. Morocco war

If you're drawn to military simulation and intrigued by how a clash between Spain and Morocco would fit into a modern wargame, you've come to the right place. Here, we've gathered the best of the community, academic analysis, and playable scenarios to understand how Command: Modern Operations (CMO) approaches this hypothetical conflict.

Beyond entertainment, this title is used as a teaching aid and even enjoys prestige among professionals . From Cold War exercises to realistic crises in Ceuta, Melilla, or the Chafarinas Islands, the CMO ecosystem offers a perfect laboratory for exploring tactics, capabilities, and political decisions with unusual depth.

What is Command: Modern Operations?

' Command: Modern Operations ' is a PC wargame that allows you to simulate multi-domain operations from World War II to near-future scenarios. Its distinguishing feature is its realistic simulation engine that integrates contemporary sensors, doctrine, logistics, and rules of engagement.

The scope and rigor of CMO have attracted serious institutions: its success reached such a point that the game caught on among military personnel at the Pentagon , consolidating its reputation as a useful tool for practicing decision-making and testing operational concepts without firing a single shot.

Scenarios and updates: from the Cold War to real-life conflicts

The community frequently updates the scenario list and the Community Scenario Package, adding missions ranging from hypothetical NATO-Warsaw Pact clashes to contemporary campaigns. This continuous flow keeps the game alive with knowledgeable, user-generated content .

Alongside alternate history scenarios of World War III, the authors have also incorporated reinterpreted real-world operations . Notable examples include versions focusing on Operation Lion Rising and the recent Israeli air campaign against Iranian infrastructure , which tested air defense in depth, electronic warfare, and advanced ISR .

Spain vs. Morocco in CMO: from the community to think tanks

Among the recent contributions, one scenario stands out that imagines a limited confrontation between Spain and Morocco in the near future. It appeared in CMO as ' Chafarinas, 2029 ', where the crisis escalates from a gray area to air and naval coercion , focusing on freedom of navigation and airspace control.

This type of exercise isn't confined to the world of gaming. An academic analysis proposes two plausible war scenarios for Ceuta in 2030 —one against the Islamic State and another high-intensity conflict against Morocco —using METT-TC and PESTEL methodologies . The convergence of the wargaming community and strategic analysis offers a comprehensive perspective that would be difficult to achieve separately.

'Chafarinas, 2029': briefing, mission, and intelligence

The ' Chafarinas, 2029 ' scenario begins after a 2028 marked by deteriorating bilateral relations. Morocco intensifies its gray zone strategy around Ceuta and Melilla with migratory pressure, economic isolation, and information campaigns . The trigger is the incursion of activists onto Isabel II Island and Morocco's subsequent declaration of an air and naval blockade of the islands.

Spain reacted by cutting off air and sea traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea and launched a freedom of navigation mission. The Audaz Group—with the BAM Audaz escorting an auxiliary vessel—acted to prevent escalation, supported by the frigates F-105 Cristóbal Colón and F-85 Navarra , and with reinforcements in transit: F-101 Álvaro de Bazán and F-111 Bonifaz . The submarine S-81 Isaac Peral provided discreet support.

The Spanish mission is to achieve effective control of the sea and air to supply the Chafarinas Islands. If armed opposition arises, the selective use of force against units responsible for the blockade is authorized , while avoiding attacks on Moroccan bases within their territory to prevent a widespread war without guaranteed allied support.

In terms of intelligence, Morocco has reportedly deployed Barak-8 and MICA air defense systems, with F-16Vs at Sidi Slimane and F-16C/Ds at Ben Guerir; the use of F-5s in an anti-ship role from Meknes is also being considered . On the surface, the OPV Rais Bargach , the FREMM Mohamed VI , and the SIGMA Tarik Ben Ziyad would be operational , with the SIGMA Sultán Mulay Ismail stationed in the Atlantic. On land, artillery is deployed off the Chafarinas Islands and near the Strait of Gibraltar, along with up to four long-range Harop missile battalions. An early pass by the Paz satellite would provide an updated tactical overview.

Success is also measured by air logistics: supplying with a CH-47F Chinook based in Melilla in less than seven hours, which forces the player to coordinate air and sea under time and media pressure.

Modding and databases: Spanish community resources

In CMO, several databases coexist — DB3k and CWDB —which complicates things for novice editors: what's a hangar in one database might be a hotel in another . A creator from the Spanish community solved this problem by converting air and naval bases from Spain, Morocco, and Western Sahara to both databases.

The work includes new versions of the Zaragoza Air Base (with secondary runway and former US area) and the Valencia-Manises airport (with and without historic military zone), in addition to the Spanish early warning radar network in four periods —from the EAC in 1958 to the integration of Lanza and RAT-31 3D—.

For Morocco, the Ben Guerir base was added , and in the Sahara , El Aaiún, Dakhla, and Smara were rebuilt from scratch with bunkers and depots accurately representing their real-world locations. This type of mod makes it easier to create historically accurate and plausible missions and reduces the technical burden for designers.

Prequel and campaigns: NAIL and the assault on the Canary Islands

The Spanish-speaking CMO scene has pedigree. The Community Scenario Package includes titles like Green Tide (2013) , about a struggle for extraction platforms off the Canary Islands, or the celebrated duo Building a Cage (prequel) and Canary's Cage (2005) , which imagines the emergence of a North African Islamic League (NAIL) and the subsequent Spanish defense.

A particularly detailed NAIL scenario places the start of an amphibious operation against the Canary Islands on September 15, 2005. The coalition—comprising Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Morocco —concentrates resources to blockade and attack Spanish forces while escorting three Bartral-class landing ships to the islands.

At sea, NAIL deploys three submarines (Romeo, Foxtrot, and the Algerian Kilo 012 Rais Hadj Mudaberk), two Nanuchka IIs (801 Rais Hamidou and 416 Ziyad), the F-951 Najim Al Zafir (Type 53) with HY-1J missiles, the F-611 Mohammed V (Floréal), two Descubierta-class frigates—F946 Abu Qir (Harpoon IC) and F501 Teniente Coronel Errahmani—and two Egyptian Perry-class frigates (F916 and F911) with towed array sonar, SAM and SSM missiles , CIWS, and four SH-2G Seasprite helicopters . It even employs a 35-meter fishing vessel to gather intelligence north of the islands.

In the air, the coalition combines 10 Mirage F1EH (Sidi Slimane), 5 MiG-29C and 7 MiG-25P (Meknes), 9 Su-24MK2 (Casablanca) armed with AS-14 short-range anti-ship missiles , 2 KC-130H , 2 Falcon 20 ECM , 2 E-2C Hawkeye (Marrakech), 14 F-16CG Block 42 , 5 MiG-25P and 14 Su-22M-3K (El Aaiún) with anti-radiation missiles to neutralize the island's air defense.

Intelligence estimates at least one Spanish Galerna-class submarine , up to half a dozen surface ships, F-18s from Wing 46 , and reinforcements from the mainland, including P-3B Orions , Seahawk helicopters , and NASAMS II ground support. NAIL's objectives are clear: escort the LSTs , neutralize Spanish ships, and minimize damage to Canary Island bases for later use.

Ceuta 2030 on the drawing board: two operational scenarios

The most comprehensive academic work on a Spain-Morocco conflict takes Ceuta in 2030 as its basis. It outlines the foreseeable state of the forces, the advantages and shortcomings of both armies and two scenarios of pure combat: insurgency and high intensity.

Actors and trends until 2030

For Spain, the anticipated recovery of long-range firepower , the deployment of the S-80 Plus submarines , ammunition reserves for a month of high-intensity combat, and a limited but useful C-UAS capability for creating localized air pockets are anticipated. Among the shortcomings are: loss of carrier-based air superiority (without F-35Bs following the retirement of the Harrier), degradation of the cavalry unit , and operational difficulties with the 8x8 Dragón due to its logistical footprint.

For Morocco, the project envisions a submarine fleet smaller than Spain's but comparable, increasing professionalization, HIMARS missiles , AH-64 Apache helicopters , armored modernization, a larger personnel reserve due to the return of conscription, US-trained special forces, and a significant leap in cyber capabilities with Israeli support. Weaknesses include the lack of an integrated IADS (Intelligent Analysis and Defense System), lower average professionalism, and limitations in long-term sustainability.

Scenario 1: Urban warfare against the Islamic State

A Marawi -style uprising is envisioned, concentrated in Ceuta, with 500 combatants and 500 support personnel, a large number of commercial drones , tunnels, and external propaganda support. Morocco would maintain a calculated passivity . Spain would receive limited aid from the US via Rota (ammunition, special forces, ISR).

The mission: to eradicate the organization while protecting the civilian population . The enemy operates with centralized command and vulnerable communications (mobile phones, simple radios), mortars , experienced snipers, and improvised explosive devices, with close-range logistics and rear tunnels.

The terrain of El Príncipe —with its commanding features such as the University Hospital, historic forts, narrow streets, terraced roofs, and overhead power lines—favors urban defense. The tunnels and no-go zones increase the cost of any hasty incursion.

Spain would deploy the Legion , Regulares, Special Operations Command (MOE), sappers, COAAAS (Special Operations Command), Leopard 2E tanks, and Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles , supported by MQ-9 Reaper missiles , air defense aircraft from the EZAPAC (Special Operations Air Defense Group), and, if necessary, naval gunfire from F-110s with 127/64 Vulcano missiles . Key: integrating infantry, armored vehicles, and UAS ( Unmanned Aerial Systems) and dispelling prejudices about the use of tanks in urban environments.

Ceuta's winter weather does not impede operations, except for occasional rain and local flooding . Civil management—evacuation corridors, hostage rescue , psychological operations—becomes crucial for social and political support.

Scenario 2: High-intensity war with Morocco

To open this option, prior changes are being considered: international recognition of Western Sahara by Rabat, a change of monarch disrupting the doctrinal balance, and a hardening of the Spanish position . The US and France would remain neutral , the EU would provide moderate political and material support, and Algeria would use the situation to exert pressure through the Polisario Front.

Morocco's objective would be to seize and occupy Ceuta . The initial deployment would include maneuvers involving the redeployment of heavy forces, the purchase of railcars and transport wagons, the establishment of new bases in the north, and information operations designed to blame Spain. The bilateral economy would be disrupted —with a significant impact on the automotive sector—and remittances and assets would be frozen.

To attack Ceuta, Rabat would need to divide its forces across multiple fronts: Melilla, Algeria, the Atlantic coast, and Western Sahara . The likely strike force would consist of a paratrooper brigade advancing through the western mountains and a mechanized brigade pushing from Tarajal through El Príncipe, with occasional amphibious incursions. Self-propelled artillery and rockets ( HIMARS ) would cover the main axis, while F-16s would protect the capital and strike naval targets.

Spain would have approximately eight Army brigades and the Marine Infantry Brigade , but would have to allocate some of these to the Canary Islands and Melilla. The Navy would impose a partial air and naval exclusion zone near the Moroccan coast, with an increasing submarine risk due to Rabat's modernization. Logistics for sustaining Hacho and the city would become critical.

The terrain around Ceuta is a funnel shape: a 21 km coastline, a narrow perimeter, and urban ravines that favor the defender. High points like Renegado, Anyera, and El Hospital dominate the approach routes; even if these are lost, experiences like Bajmut's indicate that the advance can be halted for weeks at prohibitive costs.

In the PESTEL scenario, politically, Spain would seek condemnation from the UN, EU, and NATO ; economically, a study estimates the additional cost at around €16.500 billion (2020), manageable through debt and potential EU support. The Spanish naval blockade would be imperfect but effective as a deterrent; Tangier-Med would remain within range of Spanish artillery , with global commercial repercussions. Socially, public outrage in Spain would ensure cohesion; technologically, the advantage would lie in AI and Mini/Micro category drones; environmentally and legally, there would be risks of spills , and adherence to the Montego Bay, Geneva, and The Hague conventions and the UN Charter would be crucial.

In terms of operational law, Spain could establish air and naval exclusion zones , exercise the right of visit and search on the high seas, and modify the right of innocent passage in the Strait of Gibraltar, respecting proportionality and distinction. A significant obstacle is its adherence to the Ottawa Treaty , which limits the use of antipersonnel mines.

Legal, logistical and technological implications

These scenarios demonstrate that last-mile logistics and the legality of coercive measures are as crucial as missiles. Supplying Ceuta or the Chafarinas Islands requires creativity: heavy helicopters , smaller boats, convoys under temporary A2/AD air defenses, and, if necessary, submarines or logistics submersibles.

The technological component— electronic warfare , C-UAS, AI for small UAS, and multi-sensor ISR—tips the scales in confined and urban spaces. Whoever first mass-integrates Mini/Micro kamikaze drones and systematically shoots them down will gain a decisive tactical advantage.

Why do these scenarios appeal to Spanish players?

Because they combine rigor and emotional connection . The player can contrast high-level decisions—avoiding escalation, selecting rules of engagement—with very concrete tactical dilemmas : protecting civilian vessels, prioritizing targets in a layered defense, or balancing speed and collateral damage.

Furthermore, the Hispanic community adds layers of realism with mods for accurate bases, radars, and airfields, and a catalog of scenarios ranging from Harpoon converted into a CMO to NATO-Russia conflicts, the Falklands War, and DACEX exercises. This foundation is reinforced by guides such as " The Good Admiral " and by documents on hybrid threats published by the Ministry of Defense, bringing the game closer to serious analysis.

All of the above makes one thing clear: CMO is an ideal environment to experience the tension between strategy, politics and military technique , and Spain-Morocco is a case study that, played intelligently, teaches as much as it entertains.