ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 21, 2023) The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is underway in formation with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), the German navy Brandenburg-class frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F 218), the Spanish navy F-100-class frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F 101), the Royal Netherlands navy Karel Doorman-class frigate Van Amstel (F 831), and the Polish navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate General Tadeusz Kosciuszko during a photo exercise in the Atlantic Ocean, May 21, 2023. Normandy is part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Malachi Lakey)