Frigate ‘Navarra’ to join the counter-piracy Operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean.

Last Thursday, the frigate ‘Navarra’ (F-85), under command of Cdr. Álvaro Huelin, set sail with 220 men and women on board. Along with its crew, the ship also embarked a medical team with surgical capabilities, a Marine Corps’ security team, and an embarked air unit consisting of an SH-60B helicopter and a ‘Scan Eagle’ unmanned aircraft. In addition to its operational duties, the ‘Navarra’ will act as flagship of the task group, with an international Staff under command of Rear Admiral Francisco Javier Vázquez Sanz.

The farewell ceremony was presided over by the Fleet Commander (ALFLOT) Admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río, who addressed words of encouragement to the 220 men and women who make up the force, as well as to their families. The ALFLOT emphasized the importance of this deployment for the Armada and for Spain in maintaining freedom of navigation in areas of strategic interest, such as the Indian Ocean: "This is an increasingly demanding mission, and I congratulate you for the tremendous effort you have made to prepare the frigate and be ready for any scenario," he emphasized.

The ‘Navarra’ has completed a full refit where, in addition to reviewing the main platform and operations systems, new Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities have been incorporated to tackle new threats in the area of operations.

The main objective of the European Union's ‘Operation Atalanta’ is to protect World Food Program (WFP) ships and other vulnerable vessels from pirate attacks in waters of the Western Indian Ocean. Furthermore, since the mandate was renewed on January 1, 2021, the warships have also contributed to improving maritime security in the area and monitoring other illicit activities in the region, such as illegal fishing and illicit trafficking.

The deployment of the ‘Navarra’ reinforces the Armada's commitment to defending national interests and Spanish society through an international operation.