Spanish frigate Cristobal Colon returns from combat system trials

Spanish Navy’s F-100 AEGIS-equipped frigate Cristóbal Colón arrived at her home port in Ferrol, Spain on August 2 after a 45-day deployment to North American waters where the ship carried out weapon systems trials.

Cristóbal Colón visited the U.S. Naval Base of Norfolk for combat system ship qualification trials (CSSQT) and to test her missile firing system.

The qualification trials concluded with the launching of Standard (SM-2) and Evolved Sea Sparrow (ESSM) missiles during three scheduled air defense exercises. The main purpose of CSSQT was to assess and certify the ship’s combat system for command and control, anti-air warfare and anti-missile defense.

The missile firing exercises were attended by the acting Minister of Defense Mr. Pedro Morenés and the Spanish Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Jaime Muñoz-Delgado.

Cristóbal Colón is the fifth of the AEGIS-equipped Spanish Navy frigates launched in 2010 and commissioned into active service in October 2012. Her crew consists of 201 sailors who perform humanitarian and peace-keeping missions in addition to conventional operations.