PHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 15, 2023) An F-35C Lightning II from the “Warhawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2023. ANNUALEX is a multilateral exercise conducted by the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy to demonstrate naval interoperability and a joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Carl Vinson, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 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 B Goessl)