GULF OF OMAN (Nov. 8, 2021) An F-35B Lightning II attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, deployed with the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during an interoperability exercise with Queen Elizabeth, Nov. 8, 2021. Essex and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Wesley Richardson)