YOKOSUKA, Japan

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Executive Officer Cmdr. Daniel Woods watches for other vessels on the bridge wing of Blue Ridge as the ship returns to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan following a patrol in the Indo-Pacific region, April 23, 2026. Blue Ridge and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff conduct regular Indo-Pacific patrols to deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance future warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damian Cook) Share

YOKOSUKA, Japan

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) returns to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan following a patrol in the Indo-Pacific region, April 23, 2026. Blue Ridge and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff conduct regular Indo-Pacific patrols to deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance future warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damian Cook) Share

SULU SEA

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), center, Philippine Coast Guard Boracay-class patrol boat BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), left, and U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), right, participate in a group sail during a multilateral exercise with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Royal Australian Navy in the Sulu Sea, April 13, 2026. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles Oki) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Asahi-class destroyer JS Asahi (DD-119) and U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) conduct a group sail during a bilateral exercise in the South China Sea, April 16, 2026. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damian Cook) Share

SULU SEA

U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Pat Hannifin shakes hands with Philippine Marine Corps 3d Marine Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Wilredo B. Manalang Jr. aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during a multilateral exercise with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Royal Australian Navy in the Sulu Sea, April 13, 2026. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Caitlin Flynn) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

U.S. 7th Fleet Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Kyle Gantt, right, greets Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Surface Warfare Squadron 6 Commodore Capt. Jo Takemasa on the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) flight deck during a bilateral exercise with the JMSDF in the South China Sea, April 16, 2026. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles Oki) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

From left: Philippine Coast Guard Boracay-class patrol boat BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FF 156), and U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) conduct a group sail during a multilateral exercise with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Royal Australian Navy in the Sulu Sea, April 13, 2026. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas Douglass) Share

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon taxis toward the runway before takeoff during Red Flag-Alaska 26-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 20, 2026. Homeland defense requires layered, integrated operations extending beyond U.S. borders, coordinated across combatant commands and with allied and partner forces. RF-A 26-1 provides realistic air combat training to sustain that capability and support power projection. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mikaley Kline) Share

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska

A U.S. Navy service member conducts pre-flight inspections on the flight line during Red Flag-Alaska 26-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 20, 2026. Dynamic flying operations during RF-A- 26-1 helps identify the training, equipment, and capabilities the Joint Force requires to operate in the Arctic and other challenging environments, ensuring homeland defense against a variety of threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mikaley Kline) Share

U.S. 3RD FLEET

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, takes off from the flight deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), April 21, 2026. Carl M. Levin, part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operation conducting advanced training to bolster strike group readiness and capability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Isabelle Dial). Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

Sailors, assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), brace as an MV-22B Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off during flight operations, April 18, 2026. Boxer, flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is underway with the 11th MEU in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Sailor O’Rear) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

An MV-22B Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, approaches Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) during flight operations, April 18, 2026. Boxer, flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is underway with the 11th MEU in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Sailor O’Rear) Share