The most modern US guided missile destroyer in Europe arrives at the Rota base

The USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117)class destructor Arleigh Burke of guided missiles, arrived this Friday at its new base port in the Rota Naval Station (Cádiz). This ship is the most modern destroyer of the United States Naval Forces Deployed in Europeknown as FDNF-E. Commissioner in 2019, Paul Ignatius it is the second of the eight ships of the US Navy with Flight IIA, it provides more powerful computer and radar equipment than its predecessors of the same classbeing able to also carry two MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters.

The ship is the 67th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, a class capable of performing a variety of missions ranging from maritime control and defense capabilities to peacetime presence and humanitarian assistance and relief. in case of catastrophes.

The ship’s arrival in Rota is one of several scheduled base port rotations within the long-term plan of the US Navy to gradually replace the destroyers of the Cadiz base that are part of the anti-missile shield for more modern ones. The arrival also coincides with the establishment of the Helicopter Sea Strike Squadron (HSM) 79with helicopters MH-60Rwhich will provide air mission capabilities to FDNF-E destroyers.

Paul Ignatius will operate under the command of the commander of the Task Force 65 and of Destroyer Squadron 60 in support of the structure Integrated Air Missile Defense of NATO. These FDNF-E ships have the flexibility to operate in the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their prowess in maritime dominance.

Training

Before arriving at the Cadiz base, USS Paul Ignatius operated alongside British, Canadian, French, German and Norwegian allies in exercises wire car Y Green Light and visited the ports of Ponta Delgada (Portugal) and Bergen (Norway). in the Baltic Sea, USS Paul Ignatius was integrated with the 2nd Marine Division and the Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group with the Amphibious Squadron Six embarked and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Boat also carried out interoperability exercises with the USS Sioux City (LCS 11) during the inaugural deployment of a Freedom-class littoral combat ship to the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of operations. “Without a doubt we met and exceeded our objectives,” said Commander Aaron Arky, commanding officer of the Paul Ignatius. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team as they performed superbly undersea, air defense and expeditionary operations during this patrol.”

the ship named after Paul Ignatius, Secretary of the Navy under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967 to 1969. Ignatius previously served as a lieutenant in the US Navy during World War II. Headquartered in Naples, United States Naval Forces in Europe and Africa (Naviur-Navaf) operates the US naval assets in the areas of responsibility of the US European Command (Useucom) and the US Africa Command (usafricom). The Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to Naveur-Navaf and employs maritime forces across the spectrum of joint and naval operations.