US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ross DDG 71 participates to naval exercise in Sweden.

According to information published on November 16, 2020, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) entered Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea to participate in a bilateral land, air, and sea exercise between Sweden and the United States, November 13, 2020.
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The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) entered Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea to participate in a bilateral land, air, and sea exercise between Sweden and the United States, November 13, 2020. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

US Navy joins their Swedish counterparts to conduct bilateral engagement in the Baltic Sea. “Exercises like this further enhance our partnership and demonstrate our commitment to the security and stability of the Baltic region.”, said Cmdr. John D. John, commanding officer aboard Ross.

Swedish Special Forces and U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) joined conventional armed forces from both nations for the exercise.

USS Ross will engage with the Swedish Navy, Swedish Saab JAS-39 Gripens, and US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles to assist the joint SOF with simulated long-range, deep-land strikes. This training event also includes anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, and all-weather launch capabilities.

The Swedish Armed Forces and the United States military conduct recurring advanced exercises with the aim of strengthening joint defense capabilities and to contribute to enhanced stability in the Baltic Sea region.

“Special Forces help prepare and enable the battlefield for our surface combatants,” said John. “It’s crucial that we rehearse our integration not only with our own forces but alongside our partners and Allies to ensure mission success if and when we are called to action.”

USS Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its tenth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol, Aug. 29 in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.

USS Ross is one of four U.S. Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, and assigned to Commander, Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture. These Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe ships have the flexibility to operate throughout the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their mastery of the maritime domain. 

The USS Ross (DDG-71) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in service with the United States Navy. She was laid down on 10 April 1995 and launched on 22 March 1996 sponsored by Mrs. Helen L. Ross, widow of the late Captain Ross. She was commissioned on 28 June 1997, at Galveston, Texas, Commander Jeffrey R. Ginnow in command.