190506-N-FB291-1128 IONIAN SEA (May 6, 2019) An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the “Jolly Rogers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 launches off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to conduct a close air support exercise together with the U.S. Air Force 603rd Air Control Squadron and the Lithuanian Air Force. Abraham Lincoln is deployed as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in support of maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th, U.S. 6th and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of operation. With Abraham Lincoln as the flagship, deployed strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7; as well as the Spanish navy Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F 104). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Garrett LaBarge/Released)