The frigate 'Cristóbal Colón' is participating in the 'Neptune Strike' 24-2 enhanced surveillance activities

The frigate 'Cristobal Colon' (F-105) is participating in 'Neptune Strike' 24-2, which is part of the enhanced surveillance activity, together with air and maritime units from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Portugal.

This exercise, which has been underway since last week until next Thursday, October 31, is intended to ensure NATO's ability to protect its territory, freedom of navigation and airspace through the conduct of multi-domain operations (air, sea, land, space and cyberspace).

In this way, the 'Cristobal Colon', together with the U.S. battle group of the aircraft carrier 'Harry S. Truman', the British group 'Prince of Wales' and the Turkish 'Anadolu', are operating, under NATO's single command, in different scenarios of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

In the exercise, the Spanish frigate provided its air surveillance and defense capabilities, thanks to its AEGIS Combat System and SPY-1D (V) multifunction radar.

The AEGIS system enables information and weapons management to operate in triple threat environments. Specifically, it provides the ship with the necessary capabilities to respond to attacks coming from the air, from other ships or from submarines.

The SPY-1D (V) airborne radar allows detection and tracking of a large number of air and surface contacts, as well as guidance for anti-aircraft missiles (SM-II and ESSM). This capability provides the ship with the necessary firepower for self-defence and defence of other units.

The frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ is currently engaged in operation ‘Noble Shield’, within the framework of NATO's Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2), deployed in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean.

‘Neptune Strike’ 24-2

Neptune Strike 2024 tests the integration of high-level joint maritime strike capabilities, with NATO assuming operational control of multiple aircraft carriers and expeditionary strike groups in support of Alliance deterrence and defence.

The units involved are operating from the Central Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including air operations in Central Europe.

This year, NATO’s Naval Strike and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), located in Oeiras, Portugal, lead the operational event. In total, some 20 surface ships and submarines, Special Forces and numerous aircraft are participating in ‘Neptune Strike’ 24-2 in different configurations, with some 15,000-support personnel.