Spanish Navy conducted an anti-air missile firing exercise (LANMIS 01/14) in the Gulf of Cadiz from 4th to 6th October. In the exercise, 5 ‘Santa Maria’ and ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ class frigates, and several patrol boats, participated along with other air assets (involved in range safety surveillance).
The main objective of the 3-day exercise was to check the accuracy of the SM-1 missiles and correct readiness of weapon systems (including fire control radars, launchers and operational programs).
Moreover, this exercise served to improve crew training and readiness in anti-air engagements with missile and main guns.
Surface units fired 10 SM-1 and several firing runs with their main guns against indigenously manufactured aerial targets called ‘Scrab’ and CHUKAR-III (BQM-74E). The Commander of the 41st Escorts Squadron, Captain Domingo Gómez-Pamo y Guerra del Rio, was the officer in charge of the execution and coordination of the exercises.
Admiral Chief of Naval Staff, Jaime Muñoz-Delgado y Diaz del Río, and the Fleet Commander, Santiago Bolibar Piñeiro, observed the evolution of the exercise from the frigates ‘Mendez Nuñez’ and ‘Victoria’.
[mappress] Press Release, October 14, 2014; Image: Spanish Navy