PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 10, 2023) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the Pacific Ocean as an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 flies past the ship during Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2023. ANNUALEX is a multilateral exercise conducted by naval elements of the Royal Australian, Royal Canadian, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and U.S. navies to demonstrate naval interoperability and a joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Vinson, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 1, is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Isaiah Goessl)