Navy to base 4 warships in Spain - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navy to base 4 warships in Spain

Four ballistic-missile defense warships will be forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, by 2015 as part of the Navy’s plan to shield Europe from nuclear missiles, top defense officials said Wednesday.

“With four Aegis ships at Rota, the alliance is significantly boosting naval capabilities in the Mediterranean, and enhancing our ability to ensure the security of this vital region,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in an announcement on the basing agreement between Spain and the U.S. on Wednesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. “This relocation of assets takes place as part of the United States’ ongoing effort to better position forces and defensive capabilities in coordination with our European allies and partners.”

The cruiser Monterey, when it left Norfolk, Va., in March, was the first ship to deploy as part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, a land- and sea-based network of radars and interceptors designed to counter ballistic missiles. Missile defense demands are expected to ramp up from there. Forward-deploying four BMD-capable ships will provide dedicated assets in theater and will cut down on transit time and costs.

Panetta and the Spanish prime minister hailed the agreement in the announcement. The rest of the details — like which ships — are still being worked out, 6th Fleet said.

“Our plan is to have the first couple there in 2014 and the next two in about 2015,” said Cmdr. Marc Boyd, spokesman for 6th Fleet. Boyd added: “It’s really early in the process and we haven’t selected any of the ships yet.”

There are no ships based at Naval Station Rota. Boyd said 6th Fleet is considering plans to add base infrastructure and maintenance facilities to support them, as well as additional housing for their crews, “but the base is pretty suited as it is now.”