US Navy USS Roosevelt has conducted naval operations with French Navy La Fayette frigate


According to information published by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa / U.S. 6Th Fleet, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) conducted combined operations with French Navy La Fayette-class frigate FS La Fayette (F 710) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, on October this year.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 A U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 48 and embarked aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) lands on the flight deck during a passing exercise with the French Navy La Fayette-class frigate FS La Fayette (F 710) in the Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 8, 2020. (Picture source U.S. Navy)


The combined operations in the eastern Mediterranean served as an opportunity for U.S. and French naval forces to refine their interoperability and maneuvering capabilities. Roosevelt and La Fayette conducted link, communications, and tactical decision-making operations while transiting the eastern Mediterranean waters together.

U.S. Navy vessels routinely conduct operations with NATO Allies and partners to enhance collaboration and increase capacity in order to strengthen the regional maritime security.

In March 2020, Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) conducted dual-carrier flight operations with French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91), highlighting the high-level joint operations of the two partners.

Roosevelt, outfitted with the most recent Advanced Capability Build, integrates its weapons and sensors to include Cooperative Engagement Capability; Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile; Mk 15 Close-In Weapons System Block 1B; and the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, capable of supporting Standard Missile (SM) 3 and newer variants. These capabilities vastly increase the sea-based BMD force structure and contribute to NATO's robust integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) architecture.

As the first Flight IIA Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) destroyer to join U.S. Sixth Fleet, Roosevelt is deployed with two embarked MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters. The embarked helicopters increase Roosevelt’s surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) is an Arleigh Burke-class DDG 51 missile destroyer in service with the United States Navy. The keel was laid down on 15 December 1997 at Litton Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was launched on 10 January 1999 and christened on 23 January. The ship was commissioned on 14 October 2000 at Naval Station Mayport in Florida, with CDR Matthew E. Bobola in command.

The DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer features the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS), which has quick reaction time, high firepower, and improved Electronic Countermeasures capability in Anti-Air Warfare (AAW). The ships' Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Syste provides superior long-range multi-target detection and engagement capability with two embarked Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System MK-III helicopters (Flight IIA, DDG 79 and follow-on ships). DDG 91 and follow on ships employ the littoral variant SPY-1D(V).

The Advanced Tomahawk Weapon Control System (DDGs 79-95) and the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (DDG 96 and follow-on ships) allow the employment of multiple variants of Tomahawk missiles for strike warfare. The MK-45 gun weapon system provides a significant capability for surface warfare, land attack, and air defense. The CEC is being installed on DDG 51 Class Ships to promote Network Centric Warfare capability.

The AWS is the heart of an integrated combat system that provides area coverage and command/control focus in all dimensions of Naval Warfighting and Joint Military Operations: AAW; ASW; Anti-Surface Warfare; Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence; and Strike Warfare.


US Navy USS Roosevelt has conducted naval operations with French Navy La Fayette frigate 925 001
A U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 48 and embarked aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) flies over the French Navy La Fayette-class frigate FS La Fayette (F 710) during a passing exercise between the two ships in the Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 8, 2020. (Picture US. Navy)


The La Fayette (F 710) is the first vessel of the La Fayette-class general purpose frigates built by DCNS (now Naval Group) and operated by the French Navy. The French Navy awarded DCN the contracts to construct the La Fayette (F710), Surcoef (F711) and Courbet (F712) frigates in 1988, and Aconit (F713) and Guepratte (F714) in 1992. The La Fayette was launched in June 1992 and commissioned in March 1996. 

The La Fayette frigate is powered by four SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 V 280 STC diesel engines, rated at 21,000hp. It can reach a maximum speed of 25 kt and, at an economical speed of 12 kt, the range is 9,000 nm. The crew consists of 141 people including 12 officers, 68 non-commissioned officers, and 61 sailors. 

The La Fayette is armed with eight Exocet MM40 block II anti-ship missiles, one 100 mm TR automatic gun, two 20 mm F2 naval guns, one Crotale CN2 launcher (8 missiles on the launcher with 16 reload). She has a flight deck at the stern with a single landing spot that can be used by  10 t helicopters such as AS 565 MA Panther, SA 321G Super Frelon, or NH 90. The flight deck can be used up to Sea State 6.