Destroyer USS Arleigh Burke enters dry dock in Spain for forward-deployed maintenance
Destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, shown here, entered a Spanish dry dock for maintenance. (US Navy)
US Navy (USN) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) entered dry dock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, on 7 October for maintenance, marking the first such evolution in the US 6th Fleet area of operations since the arrival of Forward Deployed Naval Forces – Europe (FDNF-E) destroyers, the USN confirmed in a statement on 8 October.
Using a local yard in a forward-deployed area “maximises operational readiness and availability and expands forward-deployed maintenance capability”, the USN said.
Dry docking Arleigh Burke in Spain marks “a major milestone in expanding US Navy forward-deployed maintenance capabilities in Europe”, Vice Admiral J.T. Anderson, 6th Fleet commander, said in a statement.
“By integrating dry docking into planned maintenance periods overseas, the navy is increasing material readiness for our forward-deployed warships,” Vice Adm Anderson said.
During the availability, Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center US military and civilian maintenance personnel and ship's crew are slated to work alongside industry partners at Navantia for ship maintenance and modernisation, the USN noted.
For more, please see: Modernisation upgrades completed on guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon and USS James E Williams
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