The Romanian Navy has deployed its flagship frigate RS Regele Ferdinand to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 for a month of joint operations and exercises.

The former Royal Navy Type 22 departed Constanta, Romania, on October 6 and will integrate into the NATO task group for operation Sea Guardian.

With its embarked Puma naval helicopter and a crew of 240 sailors, the frigate will contribute to a broader maritime security operation in the Mediterranean.

Operation Sea Guardian is a maritime security operation carried in cooperation with Mediterranean navies to maintain maritime situational awareness, deter terrorism and enhance capacity building.

The majority of SNMG2 ships are currently near the coast of France taking part in the NATO Response Force drill Brilliant Mariner which kicked off September 29.

Among SNMG2 ships still in the Mediterranean Sea are Albanian Navy patrol ship ALS Oriku and German frigate FGS Lübeck.

RS Regele Ferdinand will likely join the two for its third integration into SNMG2 this year. The ship is expected to return to Romania in early November.