Frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ participated in Exercise ‘FANAL-19’ along with the French Carrier ‘Charles de Gaulle’.

Exercise FANAL-19, designed to prepare the French ‘Charles de Gaulle’ Carrier Task Group for its forthcoming operational deployment next March, has just successfully concluded with participation of the Spanish frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ (F-105). The CTG consisted of 8 French, US and Italian surface ships, 1 nuclear submarine and more than 30 military and civilian aircraft.

During two weeks that lasted the Exercise, the ‘Cristóbal Colón’ performed as anti-air warfare command post and OTC (Operational Test Command) of the surface TG. The ship’s complement had the chance to train in a myriad of warfare exercises: anti-air, anti-submarine, electronic warfare and firing drills, as part of simulated crisis and war scenarios.

During FANAL-19, a groups of French officers embarked on the F-105 as liaison detachment with the rest of the Task Group and also operated as aircraft controllers of the enemy force. These exercises served to integrate the Spanish AEGIS-equipped frigate into a carrier group, and to control the air defense of the whole flotilla.

In the final stage of the exercise, the ‘Cristóbal Colón’ welcomed French Rear-admiral Lebas, Commander of the Carrier Task Group, who checked the operational capabilities of the Spanish warship and verified the good performance of all the equipment.