Spanish Wartime Response to the Ukrainian Crisis

Spain has actively engaged in strengthening NATO forces in the Black Sea region, sending another vessel to this basin.

Spain's defence minister, Margarita Robles confirmed that Armada Española directed the Black Sea rocket frigate on 21 January Blas de Lezo Type (F-103) Álvaro de Bazán. It will join a patrol vessel already in this direction Meteoro (P-41) type BAM. Both ships will be the forpost of Spanish forces involved, within NATO, in supporting the stability of the region. Fregata will be part of SNMG2 which has moved from the Horn of Africa to the Black Sea. Blas de Lezo He went out to sea from El Ferrol Naval Base, Meteoro and left the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria the day before. The presence of Spanish frigate in SNMG2 will be an important reinforcement as it now consists of a flagship, Italian frigate Carlo Margottini Type (F592) FREMM IT-ASW and Turkish frigate TCG Göksu (F-497) type Olivier Hazard Perry. The Spanish ship will provide the team with "air parasol" to combat any air seizure (airplanes, maneuvering missiles, pilots, etc.). The team is commanded by Italian Rear Admiral Mauro Panebianco.

Blas de Lezo was built at Navantia shipyard in Ferrol. It was launched on 16 May 2003, and entered the Navy service on 16 December 2004. This is the third of the five frigates type F-100/Álvaro de Bazán built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. Like the other four frigates of this series, it is a multitasking unit, optimised for air defense and acting as a command ship team. The ship has an advanced combat system developed on the basis of the system AEGIS American company Lockheed Martin. Its central element is a three-ordinated radar SPY-1D, capable of detecting and tracking more than 90 targets within 500 kilometres. This system is able to identify threats in demanding coastal waters and provides the ability to fight them, mainly through a 48-chamber vertical launch missile launcher Mk-41 (VLS), equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, among others Missile Standard 2 (SM-2 Block IIIA) and Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM). frigates Álvaro de Bazán were the first ships with a buoyancy of less than 6000 tonnes on which the system was integrated AEGISwhich was the success of the Spanish industry. The ship's design shall take into account measures to reduce electromagnetic, infrared and acoustic fields from the ship, and shall have an Integrated Platform Control System that monitors approximately 10,000 sensors in different ship's devices. The ship is moving the ship. SH-60B Block I, integrated into the ship through the system LAMPS MkIII, equipped with modern sensors and weapons to detect and, if necessary, attack submarines and submarines. The crew of the frigate has 202 sailors (22 officers, 35 senior enlisted officers, 104 junior enlisted officers, and 41 sailors). However, depending on the mission, this staff may be reinforced by staff, air personnel and an intervention team composed of Marines.

Spain's next step is to send Madrid multitasking aircraft, also within the NATO mission, to bases in Bulgaria. Currently Spanish aircraft are on a mission in Lithuania, as part of the rotational presence of such machines, in countries without them. According to the Spanish minister: "Russia cannot tell any country what it can do, and NATO will defend any country that wants to join the organization." It is therefore clear that Spain's position in this conflict and its willingness to increase participation in NATO's activities in order to resolve the new crisis with Russia. The Minister has consistently confirmed Spain's strong commitment to the Atlantic Alliance.

In addition to the European NATO naval forces, there is still a USS aircraft carrier hit group in the Mediterranean Harry S. Trumanwhich was originally meant to be headed for the Middle East. It is supported by a submarine USS Georgia (SSGN-729) modified type Ohio a nuclear power supply with 154 manoeuvring missiles Tomahawk. 

The Spanish response to the Ukrainian crisis is further evidence of how important the modern international security environment is for modern fleets. Fleets with ships capable of altering the operational situation in vast areas. Including in water like the Black Sea or the Baltic Sea.

Written by TW