USS George Washington conducts 200,000th arresting gear landing in the Indian Ocean

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, conducts the 200,000 arresting gear landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 18, 2026. George Washington, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, is the U.S. Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicolas Quezada)