US Navy conducts show of air power in the Indo-Pacific, another message to China

 Harm Venhuizen

1 day ago

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Aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing 5, embarked with the carrier Ronald Reagan, conduct a show of U.S. air power over the Philippine Sea Tuesday. (MCSA Oswald Felix Jr./Navy)

U.S. Navy aircraft and ships with the Reagan Carrier Strike Group conducted an air power demonstration over the Philippine Sea Tuesday that came hard on the heels of a war of words between Washington and Beijing.

The demo conducted by the Reagan CSG and its embarked Carrier Air Wing 5, featured formation flybys, high-speed aerial turns, rocket shoots and a 5-inch gun shoot from guided-missile cruiser Antietam, according to the Reagan CSG’s Facebook page.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron 115 breaks the sound barrier during an air power demonstration over the Philippine Sea Tuesday. (MCSA Oswald Felix Jr./Navy)

The Antietam took part less than a week after sustaining a small fire that resulted in minor injuries for 13 sailors.

The air power demo also came less than a week after the Reagan CSG joined forces Sept. 25 with the amphibious assault ship America and its expeditionary strike group, including the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in the Philippine Sea Sept. 25, to conduct U.S. 7th Fleet operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Exercise Valiant Shield included about 100 aircraft and 11,000 personnel from the Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps.

Despite a recent fire on board, the guided-missile cruiser Antietam steams ahead during Tuesday's air power demonstration, taking part in a 5-inch gun shoot. (MCSA Oswald Felix Jr./Navy)

“Expeditionary Strike Force operations provide us an opportunity to build a team of teams to execute and enhance command and control of integrated forces in a complex maritime environment,” said Rear Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7. “Combining Navy and Marine Corps capabilities of the America Expeditionary Strike Group with the air power of this superbly led carrier strike group creates a more lethal and flexible force than either of our strike groups could ever be alone.”