Yesterday morning, as part of Operation “Eunavfor Aspides,” the Italian Navy frigate Virginio Fasan (F 591) neutralized an armed drone near the Bab El Mandeb Strait while protecting a European merchant vessel.
The drone, similar to those used in previous attacks by the Houthi militias, pro-Iranian militias in Yemen, approached within 5 kilometers of the Italian frigate, heading towards the escorted merchant vessel.
During the morning, complex attacks with missiles and drones were attempted, but thanks to the maneuvers of the merchant vessel, recommended by the command of the Fasan frigate, they were thwarted. A missile exploded in the water near the escorted ship, causing only superficial damage.
At the moment, the Fasan frigate and the protected merchant vessel are proceeding as planned towards the south to leave the waters of the Red Sea. To ensure freedom of navigation and the security of commercial routes in the area, the Virginio Fasan ship has assumed tactical command of Operation “Eunavfor Aspides,” taking over from the Caio Duilio destroyer.
This operation is part of the European Union’s efforts to protect navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Fasan is an anti-submarine frigate of the Bergamini class, equipped with 16 VLS A50 cells (filled with an unspecified number of ASTER-15/30 surface-to-air missiles) and armed with two 76/62 caliber guns (with conventional ammunition), two 25/80 caliber machine guns, 4 MILAS anti-submarine missiles, and 2 triple launchers for lightweight MU90 torpedoes.
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