The 'Mad Foxes' of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 left Sigonella, Italy, on detachment to Keflavik, Iceland, and participated in exercise Formidable Shield 2017.

This U.S.-led and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO-executed exercise was conducted to improve the interoperability of allied nations in a live-fire integrated air and missile defense environment.

More than 14 ships and 10 aircraft from 10 different allied countries participated in the exercise which was used to build allied relations and interoperability and also to test NATO's theatre ballistic missile defense capabilities. During Formidable Shield, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a medium range ballistic missile target fired from the Hebrides Range off the western isles of Scotland.

As safety was paramount due to the inherent danger of firing a live missile, VP-5 sent three P-8 Poseidon aircraft and four combat air crews to Keflavik to provide range clearing for the exercise.

VP-5 was joined by the "Lancers" of VP-10 who helped patrol the large exercise operating area near the Western Isles of Scotland.

"There was a sense of urgency to get the vessels' attention and acknowledgement with the amount of resources awaiting the missile shot," said Lt. j.g. Bryan Mullins, VP-5 co-tactical coordinator. "Some of the merchant vessels were hard to get into contact with, and the language barrier made communication difficult."

On Oct. 15, the long hours VP-5 and VP-10 spent clearing the operating range were crucial as the ballistic missile target was fired and the exercise culminated. The exercise was a resounding success as the missile was intercepted and destroyed by a Standard Missile 3 fired from Donald Cook.

"The crews performed flawlessly on station," said Lt. Ryan Mills, officer in charge. "Communication is always a challenge when working with several different NATO allies in a large-scale joint operation like Formidable Shield, but the Mad Foxes were able to find, track and relay the position of any surface traffic that could potentially be in harm's way. Their performance, along with the effort by our maintenance team to get the planes safely off deck, directly contributed to the success of Formidable Shield."

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/.