Frigate 'Cristóbal Colón' joins NATO's Operation 'Noble Shield'

• The frigate takes over from frigate 'Almirante Juan de Borbón' within Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

Frigate 'Cristóbal Colón' (F-105) docked in Souda (Greece) to take over from frigate 'Admiral Juan de Borbón' within the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2). The F-105 will set sail, along with other ships of allied countries, making up the core of NATO's rapid reaction maritime forces.

During its deployment, ending in December, the frigate will participate in the NATO 'Noble Shield' mission, will carry out exercises and will provide naval presence throughout the Central and Eastern Mediterranean.

The SNMG-2 is a standing maritime group of the Alliance in which naval and air units from the different allied countries are integrated. Its function is to provide NATO with an immediate operational reaction capability in naval scenarios. Admiral Scott Sciretta of the USS Navy took command of the Group in early July and will keep it until June 2023.

The Spanish Navy has maintained a continuous presence in these groups for more than 30 years.

During its integration, the 'Cristóbal Colón' will contribute to operations by providing an important air defence and detection capacity based on its AEGIS combat system and the SPY-1D (V) multi function radar. Its crew is made up of 227 men and women, including a Marine Corps Security Operational Team and the Embarked Air Unit of an SH-60B helicopter.