260823-N-QM517-4568

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) sails in formation with Philippine Navy frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG 7) while Philippine Air Force fighter jets fly overhead during a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Aug. 24, 2026. The U.S Navy routinely operates with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and partners and allies through MCAs to continually develop, exercise and enhance multi-domain tactical interoperability to uphold peace and security in the region. Santa Barbara is on a rotational deployment to the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician 2nd Class Alexander Klee)