211028-N-PL200-0005

An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 23 aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6), bottom, flies with helicopters from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Murasame-class destroyer JS Yudachi (DD 103) while sailing in the South China Sea. HSC 23 and Jackson, part of Destroyer Squadron Seven, are on a rotational deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.