Cristóbal Colón Provides Air Protection to USS Vella Gulf

The frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ (F-105) has participated in a ballistic missile defense (BMD) exercise in the Mediterranean Sea on June 26th and 27th, providing air protection to the US Navy cruiser ‘USS Vella Gulf’ (CG-72) whose combat system is capable of intercepting ballistic targets outside the earth’s atmosphere.

In the course of the exercise the frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ provided conventional air protection to the US Navy ship. Prior to the exercise, and in order to coordinate the details, several Spanish officers embarked on the US cruiser to attend the briefing.

The ‘Cristóbal Colón’, under the command of Commander Enrique Núñez de Prado, is currently operating as flagship of NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2). The F-105 is scheduled to arrive at Málaga on July 5th where the SNMG-2 change of command ceremony will take place. During the last year, the Flag Officer of this NATO task group has been the Spanish Navy Rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río.

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Press Release, July 04, 2014; Image: Spanish Navy