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SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 25, 2025) - The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28), returns into formation behind the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) after deploying a target for a live-fire gunnery exercise (GUNNEX) during Balikatan 2025, April 25. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Leonard Adams)