USS Oscar Austin Among Two U.S. Navy Destroyers Relocating to Rota, Spain

The USS Oscar Austin, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, is set to enhance U.S. military capabilities in Europe. This move initiates the phased addition of two destroyers to the Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe (FDNF-E) with the second vessel expected in 2026. The upcoming ship’s name remains undisclosed for now.

Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, stated, “Shifting Oscar Austin’s homeport to Rota fortifies U.S. and NATO maritime presence and increases combat power in Europe. It also enhances the One Atlantic concept, which ensures the utilization of naval forces against threats and strategic competitors.”

This transition heightens the operational footprint of the U.S. Navy at the Rota Naval Base to five destroyers, reinforcing commitments to maritime allies in Spain. This move is pivotal for improving maritime security in Europe and Africa, solidifying the trans-Atlantic alliance. Additionally, it enhances collaboration between U.S. and Spanish navies on ship maintenance and training.

The strategic positioning of naval forces in Spain leverages global crossroads and maximizes operational flexibility within the European theater. The arrival of the USS Oscar Austin will relieve the operational tempo for other FDNF-E Sailors in Rota, thereby improving their quality of life and reducing stress.

On May 8, 2023, U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Julissa Reynoso, signed the enhancement of the Defense Cooperation Agreement in Madrid, expanding the U.S. Navy’s presence at Rota Naval Base from four to six Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

This strategic basing decision dates back to the U.S. European Phased Adaptive Approach announced by President Obama in 2009. This initiative aims to bolster Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities, including increasing FDNF-E destroyers and completing the second Aegis Ashore site in Poland.

The USS Oscar Austin, commissioned on August 19, 2000, in Norfolk, Va., is named after Pfc. Oscar P. Austin, United States Marine Corps. This Flight IIA destroyer excels in ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare. It can host two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for enhanced anti-submarine operations. Additionally, it operates alongside Carrier Strike Groups, Surface Action Groups, and Expeditionary Strike Groups or independently.