02:55Spain: Aegis-equipped USS Carney arrives in Rota
The fourth of four Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers arrived at its new permanent station at the naval base of Rota, near the Spanish city of Cadiz, Friday, as part of a ballistic missile defence shield, named 'European Phased Adaptive Approach.' NATO has been a key contributor in terms of the organisation of the operation.
The USS Carney, an Aegis missile defence arrived at the navy base of Rota, and received a warm welcome by the crew families and navy officers. The Spanish admiral of the fleet Javier Franco spoke on the tight relations between Spain and the United States throughout the centuries and added that "the destroyer will contribute to that as part of the ballistic missile defence in south Europe." From his side the Commander of the U.S Forces in Europe and Africa Admiral Mark Ferguson clarified that the ships "are focused on a missile defence threat from the south, they are not targeted in Russia and they in no way affect the Russian nation's strategic deterrence that they deploy."
Being deployed in three phases, the Aegis missile defence system is specifically designed to neutralise sophisticated ballistic missiles simultaneously. Phase one has already been completed, while Phase two will be completed in 2015. This will include an "Aegis-Ashore" deployment in Romania, the first of its kind in Europe. Phase three will be deployed in 2018.
02:55The fourth of four Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers arrived at its new permanent station at the naval base of Rota, near the Spanish city of Cadiz, Friday, as part of a ballistic missile defence shield, named 'European Phased Adaptive Approach.' NATO has been a key contributor in terms of the organisation of the operation.
The USS Carney, an Aegis missile defence arrived at the navy base of Rota, and received a warm welcome by the crew families and navy officers. The Spanish admiral of the fleet Javier Franco spoke on the tight relations between Spain and the United States throughout the centuries and added that "the destroyer will contribute to that as part of the ballistic missile defence in south Europe." From his side the Commander of the U.S Forces in Europe and Africa Admiral Mark Ferguson clarified that the ships "are focused on a missile defence threat from the south, they are not targeted in Russia and they in no way affect the Russian nation's strategic deterrence that they deploy."
Being deployed in three phases, the Aegis missile defence system is specifically designed to neutralise sophisticated ballistic missiles simultaneously. Phase one has already been completed, while Phase two will be completed in 2015. This will include an "Aegis-Ashore" deployment in Romania, the first of its kind in Europe. Phase three will be deployed in 2018.