Frigate ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ Receives Visit from Commander of NATO Standing Naval Group 2

•  During the visit, a replenishment at sea was conducted with the Auxiliary Oil Replenishment (AOR) ‘Patiño’ and an Air Defence Exercise involving an AV-8B Harrier II took place

The Spanish frigate Álvaro de Bazán (F-101) received an official visit from the Commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (COMSNMG-2), Rear Admiral (LH) H. Ilker Avc of the Turkish Navy, currently embarked on the Turkish frigate TCG Kemalreis, the flagship of this NATO maritime operation.

The visit occurred shortly after Álvaro de Bazán departed from the port of Alicante. COMSNMG-2 embarked for a half-day sail during which he toured the Spanish warship’s facilities and was briefed on the range of technical systems and operational capabilities Spain contributes to NATO’s naval task group.

During the same voyage, the frigate conducted a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the AOR Patiño and participated in an Air Defence Exercise (ADEX) involving an AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, as part of the broader NEPTUNE STRIKE framework.

The Álvaro de Bazán provides air surveillance and defence capabilities to SNMG-2 through its AEGIS combat system and SPY-1D(V) multifunction radar. She also embarks a Naval Protection Team from the Tercio de Levante (TERLEV) of the Spanish Marine Corps.

NATO Standing Naval Forces

NATO’s Standing Naval Forces (SNF), comprising two Standing Naval Maritime Groups (SNMG) and two Standing Mine Countermeasures Groups (SNMCMG), represent the Alliance’s continuous maritime presence and readiness.

Their key areas of operation include the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, Northern Flank, and Southern Corridor (stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the Suez Canal), including the Horn of Africa.

SNMG-2 forms the core of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force - Maritime (VJTF-M), currently under Operation Noble Shield.

This deployment underscores Spain’s and the Spanish Navy’s enduring commitment to NATO, reinforcing solidarity among Allied nations and contributing to deterrence and collective defence on and from the sea.