180122-N-RG482-081 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 22, 2018) The Spanish navy frigate ESPS Blas de Lezo (F 103) and Portuguese frigate NRP Corte Real (F 322) trail the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) as the ships transit teh Atlantic Ocean. Ross is participating in an at-sea exercise with the Spanish and Portuguese navies, that is designed to improve the countries’ interoperability when conducting maritime training, including gun and small-boat evolutions. Ross is forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)