The forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain, July 18, to conduct naval operations in support of security and stability in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
Ross is the second of four forward deployed naval ships to arrive in Rota. The ship will deploy in order to reassure and protect European allies, partners, U.S. forces in the region, and the U.S. homeland against current and emerging ballistic missile threats.
Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) in the European theater are part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, which develops the capability to augment protection of the U.S. and offers regional allies more effective defenses.
While on patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, Ross will perform numerous missions including NATO missile defense, maritime security operations and bilateral and multilateral training exercises.
Ross is joining USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) which has been on station since February. USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS Carney (DDG 64) are scheduled to arrive in Rota in 2015.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.