The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to the fleet after completion of the upgrades.
The Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) Detachment Rota completed a 101-day selected restricted availability (SRA) aboard the destroyer.
FDRMC Rota supervised the availability of the ship. Navantia was the prime contractor for the work.
USS Ross is homeported in Rota, Spain, to support regional security and ballistic missile defence.
FDRMC Commanding Officer captain Gus Vergara said: “The collective dedication and drive of the entire team resulted in on-time delivery of this critical BMD asset to DESRON 60 and the Commander, 6th Fleet.”
The SRA began on 22 July this year and involved the delivery of combat system upgrades, as well as hull, mechanical and electrical work.
The team also performed structural and preservation work on forward and aft gas turbine exhaust stack tops.
The work also comprised of full preservation and non-skid replacement on both forward and aft vertical launch systems.
During the availability, DDG 71 also received an upgrade to the shipboard video distribution system and enhancements to the Battle Force Tactical Trainer.
FDRMC Officer in Charge commander Luis Socias said: “Many factors, including our cooperation and continuous communication with the prime contractor, facilitated the timely completion of the work.”
USS Ross can perform combat operations in support of carrier battle groups, amphibious assault groups, and surface action groups.
The destroyer is armed with a range of weapons including Harpoon anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine rockets, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and torpedoes.
In July, the ship concluded its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol prior to the SRA.
