ROTA, Spain (WAVY) — Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles visited the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin after completing its homeport shift at Naval Station Rota, Spain Oct. 18.
The USS Oscar Austin, which left Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 30 to conduct a homeport shift in Rota as part of the U.S. Navy’s long-range plan to gradually rotate Rota-based destroyers, is the first of two additional destroyers to join the Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe force.
The Oscar Austin is the first of two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destoryers to join the current Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe force, which adds additional capabilities to the U.S. European Command and to the U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.
The second ship is to arrive in 2026 and will be named closer to its arrival.