USS Mustin conducts flight ops in Indian Ocean

U.S. Navy Gunner’s Mate Seaman Izaiah Cortez, left, from Mississippi, and Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Bar Htoo, right, from Texas, hold chains while Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Justice House, from Montana, gives hand signals to an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51, on the flight deck aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) during flight operations while underway in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 4, 2026. Mustin is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. 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 2nd Class Timothy Dimal)