The frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ deploys in a NATO exercise in the Norwegian Sea

The F-100 frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ set sail from Ferrol (northwestern Spain) towards the North Sea to participate in NATO’s anti-submarine exercise ‘Dynamic Mongoose 2015’.

Military units from eleven Allied nations will take part in this training exercise under the command of NATO’s Submarine Force Commander. The participating units are: 9 frigates with six embarked helicopters, 2 fleet oilers, 3 conventional submarines, 1 nuclear submarine, 3 MPAs and 2 land-based helicopters.

The Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2), currently made up of four warships under the command of US Navy RA Brad Williamson, will participate in these manoeuvers tasked with the tactical command of all surface and air units.

Anti-submarine capability of the Spanish Navy frigate

The low acoustic signature of frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ makes her especially stealthy. Submarines sailing at long-ranges can be detected with her low frequency hull-mounted sonar and engage them with her double deck-mounted torpedo launchers.

The frigate embarked an SH-60B anti-submarine helicopter equipped with three torpedoes and different anti-submarine acoustic (sonobuoys) and non-acoustic detection systems. Its light airborne multipurpose system (LAMPS) is an extension of the ship’s sensors and weapons integrated thanks to its data link.