The US Navy (USN) DDG 51 Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin arrived in its new homeport at Naval Station Rota, southern Spain in mid-October, as the USN takes its next step in enhancing the Rota-based Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) capacity and capability.
This step encompasses increasing the number of Arleigh Burkes in Rota from four to six, alongside upgrading their capability output from Flight I/II to Flight IIA variants (or equivalent capability). Agreement between Spain and the United States to step up the ship numbers was reached in 2023.
Making up Destroyer Squadron 60/Commander, Task Force (CTF) 65, under US Sixth Fleet, the FDNF-E programme has been built around forward-deployed DDG 51s homeported in Rota since 2014. USS Donald Cook (Flight II) and USS Ross (Flight I) arrived in 2014; USS Porter (Flight II) and USS Carney (Flight I) followed in 2015.
Prior to stepping the FDNF-E force level up to six destroyers, the USN had already been rotating out the original ships. In 2020, the Flight IIA ship USS Roosevelt arrived to replace Carney. In 2021, USS Arleigh Burke (a Flight I ship, but extensively upgraded including to Aegis Baseline 9 standard) relieved Donald Cook. In 2022, the Flight IIA ships USS Paul Ignatius and USS Bulkeley swapped out with the last two ships, Ross and Porter.
Oscar Austin’s arrival brings the force level up to five. Ship six is scheduled to arrive in 2026.
Arleigh Burke destroyers are multi-purpose vessels, bringing capability across the spectrum of naval operations. The Flight IIA ships bring a helicopter hangar and capacity to embark two anti-submarine warfare-focused MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. Ships five and six will bring additional capabilities, including the latest Aegis ballistic missile defence (BMD) upgrade that will build extended deterrence by providing allies and partners with BMD protection.
“Oscar Austin’s arrival to Naval Station Rota strengthens our commitment to maintaining a forward presence in Europe,” said Vice Admiral J.T. Anderson, Commander, US Sixth Fleet, in a statement. “The addition of this ship to our forces in the region provides our allies with an added layer of security and assurance.”
“Bringing Oscar Austin to Spain enhances our ability to maintain ready and postured forces to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment,” Captain Alex Mamikonian, Commodore, DESRON 60/CTF 65, said in the statement.
by Dr. Lee Willett
