Spanish Navy frigate Álvaro de Bazán leads PACIFIC DRAGON 26 exercise

The Spanish Navy frigate ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ (F-101) has participated in the multinational exercise PACIFIC DRAGON 26 (PD-26) in the waters of the Hawaii archipelago. Led by the US Navy’s Third Fleet Admiral, the exercise included naval and air units from seven allied nations, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

During the biennial exercise, the F-101 served as a command ship, hosting the staff of the Commander of Destroyer Squadron 31 (COMDESRON-31). The primary focus of PD-26 was to enhance readiness and capabilities in air defense and ballistic missile defense (BMD).

The exercise allowed participating units to train in complex scenarios, improving threat detection, tracking, and tactical information exchange within a multinational command and control architecture. The Spanish Navy’s involvement highlights its ongoing efforts to develop integrated air and missile defense capabilities using the AEGIS combat system.