The second stage of the drills called Sea Breeze 2016 started on Monday and will last until July 30. The exercises are the 15th iteration of Sea Breeze, which is “an annual exercise held in the Black Sea designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security,” according to the US Navy.
The first stage lasted from July 11 to July 17, with 25 military vessels, two planes, two helicopters and some 1,700 personnel are taking part in the exercise conducted in the international waters of the Black Sea.
Some 2,500 personnel from 13 countries are taking part in this stage of the drills that include, “maritime interdiction operations as a primary means to enhance maritime security. Other warfare areas to be tested include air defense, anti-submarine warfare, damage control, search and rescue, and other tactical maneuvers,” according to the Navy.
USS Ross is one of four US destroyers based in Rota, Spain. It is equipped with the Aegis missile defense system that is designed for the fleet’s air defense against massive air raids. Aegis is also used as a part of the US global missile defense system. The vessel is equipped with two blocks of missile launchers and is able to carry as many as 90 missiles, including ‘Standard’ ABM interceptor missiles and Tomahawk missiles.
