ume unidad militar de emergencias

What ume unidad militar de emergencias does

The Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) is a specialized military unit of the Spanish Armed Forces, established in 2005 and operating under the Ministry of Defense. It serves as Spain's primary military intervention force for civil emergencies, including forest fire fighting, urban search and rescue (USAR), technological and environmental incidents, and international disaster response. UME is activated through official requests from autonomous communities, the Ministry of Interior, or the national government, and is integrated into the national emergency network (RENEM) for coordinated deployment.

UME's operational structure comprises five geographically distributed Emergency Intervention Battalions (BIEM I–V, stationed at Torrejón de Ardoz, Zaragoza, Sevilla, Valencia, and León), the Regimiento de Apoyo a las Emergencias, and the Batallón de Helicópteros de Emergencias (BHELEME) equipped with EC-135 and Cougar helicopters. Specialized capabilities include the Unidad Aeromóvil (UAM) for aerial water deployment using 1,000-liter BHELEME-transported tanks, INSARAG-certified USAR teams, and the GIETMA group for technological and environmental emergencies. First response teams are ready in under one hour, and full peninsula deployment is achievable in under four hours. Internationally, UME has completed seven USAR missions, including responses in Nepal (2015) and Venezuela (2026).

UME is a government state entity with no commercial revenue stream; it is funded through the Ministry of Defense national budget and provides services at no direct charge to beneficiaries. Revenue mechanics are therefore not applicable in the conventional sense. The unit maintains institutional partnerships with Spanish autonomous communities, Cruz Roja Española, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and international bodies including UN/INSARAG, and offers the Plan FORUME as an international training and advisory program for the creation of foreign emergency military units.

Name

ume unidad militar de emergencias

Legal name

Unidad Militar de Emergencias

Website

https://ume.defensa.gob.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) is Spain's military emergency response unit under the Ministry of Defense, established in 2005, providing rapid forest fire fighting, USAR, and disaster response across five battalions and serving Spanish autonomous communities and international bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Emergency Response Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Fire Protection (92216), National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Management & Disaster Response (EOC, Civil Defense) (BPAIAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response, Rescue & Tactical EMS (DMAT/USAR/SWAT/HAZMAT Medical) (HLAFANAH), Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ), Emergency Response Team (ERT) Staffing & Incident Management Support (BPABANAD)

Keywords

• Civil emergency response
• Forest firefighting services
• Urban search and rescue
• Military disaster response
• Aerial firefighting operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Torrejón de Ardoz

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government-funded emergency services: UME is a government institution funded through the Ministry of Defense budget. Services are provided to Spanish citizens and public institutions at no direct charge, as part of national civil protection infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) provides military-grade emergency response services to Spanish civil authorities and international organizations. Its core offerings include forest fire fighting (LCIF campaign with up to 3,000 personnel and 1,500 in direct fire fighting roles), urban search and rescue (USAR) with international certification, technological and environmental emergency intervention, and rapid deployment capability (first response in under one hour, full deployment across the peninsula in under four hours). The unit is organized into five emergency intervention battalions (BIEM I–V), a helicopter battalion (BHELEME), and a support regiment.

Product overview

The Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) is a Spanish military emergency response unit operating under the Ministry of Defence, established in 2005. Rather than a technology product company, UME provides emergency intervention services including forest fire fighting (LCIF - Lucha Contra Incendios Forestales), search and rescue operations (USAR), technological and environmental emergency response, and international crisis interventions. The organization offers training programs through its Escuela Militar de Emergencias and the FORUME plan for forming emergency military units. UME maintains multiple Battalions of Emergency Intervention (BIEM I through V), a Helicopter Battalion (BHELEME), and provides specialized psychological intervention services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Intervention Services (BIEM I–V) Five Battalions of Emergency Intervention (BIEM I through V) providing first-response emergency services including forest fire fighting, search and rescue, and disaster response operations. Each battalion maintains a first response team ready to deploy in less than one hour, with full deployment across the peninsula achievable in under four hours. Bases located at Torrejón, Zaragoza, Sevilla, Valencia, and León.
• Forest Fire Fighting Campaign (LCIF) Lucha Contra Incendios Forestales (LCIF) annual campaign providing dedicated forest fire prevention and extinction services with up to 3,000 military personnel deployed, including 1,500 in direct fire fighting roles organized across 30 intervention sections. The 2026 campaign is actively featured on the UME website.
• USAR International Rescue Service Urban Search and Rescue teams internationally certified to INSARAG standards, available for international deployment under UN coordination or bilateral agreements. Has completed 7 international missions including Nepal earthquake response (2015) and Venezuela deployment (2026), with recognition including the Orden del Mérito Civil.
• Escuela Militar de Emergencias (EME)

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2015Cátedra extraordinaria 'Comandante Sánchez Gey' for joint teaching and research activities. Focus on psychological support in emergencies and disasters.
• Cruz Roja EspañolacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2015Expanded collaboration in protection and relief tasks for populations in emergency situations. Technical agreement for joint operations.
• IberdrolaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 July 2015Training sessions on distribution network technology and high/low voltage operations in emergency situations. Includes practical exercises and emergency simulations.
• Centro ALURTEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2014Collaboration agreement for high mountain risk prevention in the Pyrenees.
• Grupo Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad de EspañaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2014Agreement to cooperate in protecting cultural heritage sites during emergency situations.
• Gobierno de La RiojacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2013Collaboration agreement in civil protection and emergencies with the Government of La Rioja.
• Xunta de GaliciacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2013Strengthened collaboration between the regional government of Galicia and UME for more effective emergency response.
• Gobierno de CantabriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2013Collaboration agreement in civil protection and emergency management signed with the Government of Cantabria.
• Centrales Nucleares de España (Curiex)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2013International exercise demonstrating new capabilities of the Technological and Environmental Emergency Intervention Group (GIETMA) at nuclear facilities.
• Comunidad Foral de NavarracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2013Collaboration agreement to provide more effective emergency response in Navarra.
• Ceuta y Melilla (Ciudades Autónomas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2012Collaboration and affiliation agreement with the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla under RENEM.
• Illes Balears (Govern de les Illes Balears)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2012Collaboration agreement signed to provide more effective emergency response. UME works with the regional government of the Balearic Islands for emergency situations.
• Región de MurciacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2012First autonomous community to integrate its 112 alert system into the National Emergency Network (RENEM).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): U.S. federal agency coordinating disaster response, preparedness, and recovery. Similar coordinating/governmental role for civil emergencies with a much larger footprint; useful benchmark for institutional scale and funding models.
• Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (THW): Germany's federal agency for technical relief, providing civil protection and disaster response. Comparable mission (technical rescue, civil protection) with broader scope and different (non-military) structural model.
• Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA, Japan): Japan's national agency for fire service administration and disaster response, including USAR and earthquake response — comparable in coordinating large-scale emergencies with combined civilian and paramilitary elements.
• Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS / EMERCOM Russia): Russia's centralized ministry combining firefighting, search-and-rescue, and disaster response under a single command — a model that parallels UME's whole-of-government military emergency approach.

Direct peers

• Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco (Italian National Fire Corps): Italy's national fire and rescue service, providing wildfire suppression, USAR, and civil protection missions with military-style organization. Comparable in mission scope (fire, rescue, HAZMAT) and in its hybrid civil/military posture relative to UME.
• Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil (ANEPC): Portugal's national civil protection authority, coordinating wildfire and emergency response. Direct neighbor of UME; UME deployed 120 troops to a Portuguese wildfire in July 2026, illustrating operational comparability.
• Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD, Türkiye): Turkey's national disaster management authority coordinating earthquake response, search-and-rescue, and wildfire operations — particularly relevant given UME's USAR (earthquake) mission profile and Mediterranean climate exposure.
• Sécurité Civile / Unités d'instruction et d'intervention de la sécurité civile (UIISC): France's military-styled civil security units under the Ministry of Interior, providing wildfire response, USAR, and CBRN capabilities. Direct counterpart to UME with comparable INSARAG certification, aerial assets, and cross-border exercise history (UME ran joint exercises with UIISC 7 in 2012).

Regional players

• Australian State Emergency Service (SES) / AFAC: Federated network of Australian state emergency services for flood, storm, and rescue response — a structural analogue (distributed battalions, volunteer + professional mix) to UME's five-BIEM regional deployment model, although geographically distant.

Others

• European Union Civil Protection Mechanism / ERCC: EU's emergency response coordination centre that channels international requests and resources for disasters — directly relevant because UME's USAR team is INSARAG-certified for EU/UN missions and operates under this framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UMEgob
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UMEgob
• Facebookfacebook.com/UMEesp
• Instagraminstagram.com/ume_esp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ume-unidad-militar-de-emergencias

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ume unidad militar de emergencias