USS Ross Continues Northern Europe Patrol

On 28 November 2020, the USS Ross (DDG 71) conducted air defence and fighter control drills in the Baltic Sea,a press release from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer said.During the exercise, German Eurofighter Typhoon F 2000 jets made a series of flyovers while the destroyer's air-intercept controllers directed the planes in a series of air defence manoeuvres in the dynamic Baltic Sea environment. According to Ross CO CDR John D. Johns: Being able to conduct these exercises with our NATO Allies provides all of us with the opportunity to maintain our warfighting readiness and improve interoperability.* A week earlier, the Ross had conducted similar drills in the Baltic with Italian Eurofighters; and in September with Portuguese F-16 Fighting Falcons.This is part of the Ross' 10th Forward-Deployed Naval Forces Europe (FDNF-E) patrol, which began on 29 August 2020.* Homeported at Rota,Spain,the warship has a complement of 281 personnel and can embark up to two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.The Seahawk is multirole,having such capabilities as Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare,as well as Naval Special Warfare insertion.The Ross is currently moored at Tromso,Norway,350 kilometers/217 miles north of the Arctic Circle.*