ESPS Blas de Lezo Completes Participation in Exercise PEAN 19

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ESPS Blas de Lezo Completes Participation in Exercise PEAN 19 – SeaWaves – the BEST naval news since 1995: 

December 10, 2019 (Google Translation) – Between November 25 and December 6, 2019, the F-103 frigate “Blas de Lezo” participated in the French aircraft exercise “PEAN 19”, in the waters of the Gulf of León and the Tyrrhenian Sea. This is the last scheduled activity of the operational deployment of the F-103 frigate, which has been extended for almost 4 months, with a planned arrival at the base in Ferrol on December 15.

PEAN-19 is the integration and certification exercise of the French aircraft group (or “CDG Carrier Strike Group”), composed of the FS aircraft carrier “Charles De Gaulle” and various escorts, among which was the frigate “Blas de Lezo” . For the F-103, it was the first contact with the French units, prior to deployment in the months of March and April 2020.

The units participating in PEAN-19 came from different allied countries, such as the United States, which has participated with the destroyer “USS Ross”; Italy with the frigate “ITS Luigi Rizzo” and an onboard NH 90 helicopter; Spain, which has contributed the frigate “Blas de Lezo” and finally France that, as host country, has provided the bulk of the naval media (1 aircraft carrier, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes and 1 supply vessel for combat), and airborne ships (embarked air unit consisting of 20 Rafale fighters, 3 helicopters and 550 people) and land based (NH-90).

The PEAN-19 exercise has been divided into a serial phase, where various exercises have been carried out in the anti-aircraft and anti-surface areas, highlighting the anti-aircraft shooting exercise with secondary and main armament, as well as the flight area, with operations on deck of flight with the helicopters of other units, which allowed verifying interoperability between media and capacity building.

On the other hand in the tactical phase, or open war, they have highlighted training in command and control capabilities of the different wars, training in close escort of the aircraft carrier before surface and air threats, where he had the opportunity to exercise control of aircraft French Rafale in combat patrol (CAP).

During the year, mutual knowledge was enhanced between the French National Navy and the Spanish Navy, also through the exchange of liaison officers. Additionally, to foster understanding of the French procedures for the use of aircraft, a French air traffic controller embarked on board.

On November 28, Rear Admiral Aussedat (COMFRMARFOR and CTF473) made a courtesy visit to the frigate to greet the crew and learn about the operational capabilities of the ship, being able to verify first-hand the good work of the endowment and hospitality that It precedes it.

PEAN-19 has lasted 12 days, where the Gulf of León has been sailed to the east, south and west of the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. During this period, the operational activity was intense, filling the sea with FS “Var”, 6 hours of aircraft carrier fighter control and many flight operations with French helicopters, such as the “Dauphin” and the Italian helicopter. of the “ITS Luigi Rizzo”, the NH90.

On the other hand, the frigate “Blas de Lezo” has performed functions of escort of the aircraft carrier for more than 130 hours, 24 of them as a close escort and being able to observe closely the flight deck cycles of this ship, where they took off an average of 12 Aircraft in less than 15 minutes. Finally, it is worth noting the role that the F-103 obtained in the air field of the exercise, since it was the Commander of the Anti-Air War of the combat group for most of the time.

On December 6 the exercise “PEAN 19” ended and the frigate “Blas de Lezo” made a stopover in Toulón to make a naval presence and logistic activities, before starting the transit back to its base port in the Ferrol Military Arsenal making in Tarragona and in Rota.

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