F-100 frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ and AOR ‘Patiño’ conclude their participation in the multinational exercise ‘Formidable Shield 23’.

On June 3rd the F-100 frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ returned to her base in Ferrol (NW Spain) after having participated in exercise ‘Formidable Shield 23’ as flagship of the task group.

‘Formidable Shield’ is the most demanding and important joint-combined exercise in the field of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). It serves to test the Command and Control structure and integration capabilities of the participating nations in air defense drills against different types of missile threats.

Over the course of three weeks, ships, aircraft and land-based defense units participated in a wide variety of highly realistic and complex exercises designed to test weapon systems under the most demanding conditions. In the case of the ‘Blas de Lezo’, it included firing of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles against subsonic and hypersonic targets, as well as the use of her main artillery.

Frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ acted as command ship during the entire exercise, embarking a large international staff. This is the second consecutive time that a Spanish F-100 frigate has acted as flagship for this exercise.

For its part, the AOR ‘Patiño’ provided logistic support to the entire Naval Force, which had up to 23 ships. The support of the ‘Patiño’ was not only limited to the supply of fuel and spare parts. Her medical-sanitary capabilities (including dentist) allowed the group to safely operate in the remote and particularly demanding scenarios in which the exercise took place: the North of Norway and North West of Scotland. Both ships crossed the Arctic Circle during their deployment.

After completing the scheduled exercises at sea, the ‘Blas de Lezo’ proceeded towards Lisbon, where a program of activities was organized at NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO) Headquarters. After an official reception on board the ‘Blas de Lezo’, chaired by the Spanish Ambassador to Portugal, Mrs. Marta Betanzos, a results analysis conference (debriefing) was held at STRIKFORNATO’s Headquarters in Oeiras (Portugal).

Both activities were attended by senior NATO commanders, as well as military authorities and ambassadors of the participating nations, and the Spanish Navy's outstanding contribution to the exercise was acknowledged by all.

After the conclusion of the exercise, the ‘Patiño’ joined NATO's Standing Naval Group No. 2 (SNMG-2) until June 26.