PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 31, 2022) An MH-60K helicopter attached to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Takanami-class destroyer JS Takanami (DD 110) departs the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 31, 2022. Higgins is participating in multi-lateral exercises in support of the JMSDF's Indo-Pacific deployment, along with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy. Routine multi-lateral exercises like this one reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Higgins is assigned to Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy's largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th fleet's principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Donavan K. Patubo)