BALTIC SEA –
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) executed a passing exercise (PASSEX) with Baltic navy partners on Sept. 19, 2020.
Ross, Lithuanian Navy LNS Aukstaitis (P14), and Latvian Naval Forces LVNS Skrunda (P05) participated in a series of close proximity maneuvering exercises.
“We are excited to join our Allies in the Baltic Sea to demonstrate a continued resolve towards security and interoperability,” said Cmdr. John D. John, commanding officer of the Ross. “These exercises provide us with an invaluable opportunity to enhance our collective readiness.”
U.S. Navy routinely conducts these trainings to improve interoperability among NATO partners and to demonstrate commitment to the Baltic region. Ross recently conducted a PASSEX with Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1.
Prior to operations in the Baltic Sea, Ross conducted maritime security operations and interoperability training with the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy in the Barents Sea.
Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its tenth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol, Aug. 29 in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.