The US Navy has shared video footage of its much anticipated Western Pacific exercise where, for the first time in ten years, three nuclear-powered aircraft carriers exercised and sailed together.
US Navy’s video shows the carriers, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) sailing in formation together with their carrier strike groups.
US Navy ships were joined by South Korean warships while at one point in the video, B-1B Lancers can be seen flying over the formation.
The drill is taking place between November 11 and 14 and coincides with US president Donald Trump’s first official trip to Asia.
Ships and aircraft assigned to the strike force are taking part in coordinated operations in international waters in order to demonstrate the US Navy’s unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups as a coordinated strike force effort.
“It is a rare opportunity to train with two aircraft carriers together, and even rarer to be able to train with three,” US Pacific Fleet Commander, Adm. Scott Swift said before the exercise started. “Multiple carrier strike force operations are very complex, and this exercise in the Western Pacific is a strong testament to the US Pacific Fleet’s unique ability and ironclad commitment to the continued security and stability of the region.”
This is the first time that three carrier strike groups have operated together in the Western Pacific since exercises Valiant Shield 2006 and 2007 off the coast of Guam.