Frigate ‘Reina Sofía’ (F-84) to participate in Operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean.

Last Friday, and after an intense operational qualification and readiness period, frigate ‘Reina Sofía’ (F-84), sailed from Rota Naval Base towards the Indian Ocean to join ‘EUNAVFOR Somalia’, known as ‘Operation Atalanta’. The farewell ceremony was presided over by the Spanish Navy Fleet Commander, Admiral Antonio Martorell Lacave.

The main objective of this European Union mission is to protect World Food Program (WFP) ships, as well as other vulnerable vessels transiting the area, and to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the waters of Eastern Somalia.

For the first time in her history, the ‘Reina Sofía’ has embarked for this deployment a team from the 11th Aircraft Squadron made up of ‘Scan Eagle’ drones which provide the ship with ample and new capabilities related to surveillance, obtaining images in real time.