A combined United States carrier strike group are now operating in the West Philippine sea (South China Sea) for its routine flight and naval operations, the US Navy said.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conduct dual-aircraft carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
US Navy official explained that warships and aircraft assigned to both strike groups began coordinated operations in international waters demonstrating the United States unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity.
Rear Admiral John D. Alexander, commander of the battle force 7th Fleet and Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG 5) said, “this is a great opportunity for us to train in a high-end scenario, we must take advantage of these opportunities to practice warfighting techniques that are required to prevail in modern naval operations.”
“Working with Rear Adm. Hitchcock and Carrier Strike Group Three, during their deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, has been a great opportunity for us to train on how we would operate multiple carrier strike groups in a contested environment,” said Alexander. “The U.S. Navy has flown, sailed and operated throughout the Western Pacific in accordance with international law for decades, and will continue to do so.”
Alexander said, as a Pacific nation and a Pacific leader, the United States has a national interest in maintaining security and prosperity, peaceful resolution of disputes, unimpeded lawful commerce, and adherence to freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the shared domains of the Indo-Asia-Pacific. For more than 70 years, the U.S. Navy has been a persistent and stabilizing presence conducting operations throughout the region on a daily basis.
The strike groups conducted air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long range strikes, coordinated maneuvers and other exercises. - Carl E. / Images credit to MC3 Jake Greenberg of the US Navy
