PHILIPPINE SEA (Dec. 6, 2023) An F-35C Lightning II, from the "Warhawks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, prepares to launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). 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 2nd Class Isaiah B. Goessl)