Latest news with #USSGeorgeWashington
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Photos Show US Aircraft Carrier Preparing for Patrol on Pacific Front Line
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington—homeported in Japan—continues its preparations for an upcoming patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. Lieutenant Commander Mark Langford, the George Washington's public affairs officer, told Newsweek that the aircraft carrier was "focused on ensuring that the U.S. military remains the world's most combat-credible fighting force capable of maintaining peace through strength." Why It Matters The George Washington is one of the American naval vessels forward-deployed in Japan—a major treaty ally of the U.S. in Northeast Asia. It returned to its home port at Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo in November following 2,117 days of maintenance in Virginia. The 100,000-ton warship left Yokosuka naval base earlier this week, while its naval aviators were conducting field carrier landing practice on a Japanese island in the Pacific Ocean, simulating landings on the George Washington's flight deck to obtain landing qualifications. A Japanese media representative capturing a United States Navy F-35C fighter jet as it conducted a "touch and go" during field carrier landing practice at Iwo To in Japan on May 25. A Japanese media representative capturing a United States Navy F-35C fighter jet as it conducted a "touch and go" during field carrier landing practice at Iwo To in Japan on May 25. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dyxan K. Williams/U.S. Navy While the George Washington and its aviation unit prepared for patrol, the Chinese navy—the world's largest by hull count, with more than 370 vessels—deployed the aircraft carriers CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong to the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, respectively. What To Know The George Washington conducted consolidated cargo and fueling-at-sea operations with the chartered tanker Badlands Trader on Wednesday at an undisclosed location in waters south of Yokosuka, according to photos released by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. Check out these images. @MSCSealift chartered ship Motor Tanker Badlands Trader (T-AOT 5582) conducted consolidated cargo operations (CONSOL) with @GW_CVN73 May 28 at sea south of Yokosuka, Japan. 🚢⛽💪 — U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (@MSCSealift) May 29, 2025 The aircraft carrier was underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. Seventh Fleet's area of operations in support of "a free and open Indo-Pacific," Langford said. Both the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean are the Seventh Fleet's operating area. Official photos also show that the Carrier Air Wing 5—attached to the George Washington—conducted field carrier landing practice at Iwo To, a Japanese island 750 miles south of Tokyo. The training began on May 19 and is scheduled to end on Saturday. Participating carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft included the F-35C and F/A-18E/F fighter jets, the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, and the E-2D airborne command and control aircraft. Pilots performed repetitive "touch and go" landings during the training on the small island. "[This is the training] that is required for Air Wing 5 air crews to get ready to go to sea," said Captain William Fallon, the assistant chief of staff for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Navy Region Japan, adding that the island provided a realistic practice environment. The George Washington's carrier air wing is also known as the "air wing of the future," said Langford, referring to the inclusion of the fifth-generation F-35C fighter aircraft, which features "advanced stealth technology" and provides "unmatched lethality and survivability." What People Are Saying The U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Navy Region Japan said on Friday: "[Field carrier landing practice] is a required flight training for pilot qualification and proficiency that precedes aircraft carrier landing operations, ensuring warfighting readiness in support of regional security and stability in the U.S. Indo-Pacific region." The U.S. Navy said of the USS George Washington's return to Japan: "George Washington is Seventh Fleet's premiere forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and operates alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." What Happens Next It was not immediately clear when the George Washington would begin its first patrol after returning to Japan seven months ago. It also remains to be seen whether it will conduct joint operations with its sister ship, the USS Nimitz, which is in the South China Sea.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Chinese Aircraft Carrier Challenges US's Pacific War Strategy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China continues to challenge the United States' maritime containment strategy in the Pacific Ocean by sending an aircraft carrier to contested waters near Japan, a key Washington ally. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference on Wednesday that China's naval activities "are entirely in accordance with international law and international practice" and also urged Japan to view the matter "objectively and rationally." Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters Under the U.S.'s island chain strategy, three defensive lines are established by leveraging U.S.-aligned territories to restrict China's access to the Pacific Ocean. The closest one to the East Asian power is the first island chain, consisting of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. China has the world's largest navy by hull count, according to a Pentagon report, with more than 370 ships and submarines, including two aircraft carriers in active service. This naval fleet enables China to expand its military presence and reach within and beyond the island chains. The recent deployment of the Chinese aircraft carrier comes as the U.S. Navy has sent a pair of aircraft carriers to different waters in the western Pacific Ocean this week: the USS Nimitz, operating in the South China Sea, and the USS George Washington, operating near Japan. What To Know The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, previously spotted in the East China Sea north of Japan's southwestern Senkaku Islands, passed through the Miyako Strait southeast toward the Philippine Sea on Tuesday, the Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry announced. The Liaoning was operating in waters southeast of Japan's southwestern Miyako Island eight hours after sailing through the strait. It was joined by the Chinese Type 055 destroyer CNS Nanchang and the Type 052D destroyer CNS Qiqihar, both identified by their hull numbers. Prior to its strait transit, the Chinese aircraft carrier was observed conducting flight missions while underway in the East China Sea from Sunday to Monday, the Japan Joint Staff added. Its fighter jets and helicopters carried out 90 and 30 takeoffs and landings, respectively. According to a map provided by the Japan Joint Staff, the Chinese naval ships were tracked outside Japan's territorial waters—which extend up to 13.8 miles from the coastline—but have remained within Japan's 230-mile-wide exclusive economic zone since Monday. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched ships and aircraft to surveil and gather intelligence on the Chinese naval task group, while Japanese fighter aircraft were scrambled in response to the flight operations of the Liaoning's fighter jets, the Japan Joint Staff said. A J-15 fighter jet landing on the flight deck of the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning during a drill in the South China Sea on April 8, 2021. A J-15 fighter jet landing on the flight deck of the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning during a drill in the South China Sea on April 8, 2021. VCG/VCG via AP Earlier this month, a group of five Chinese naval vessels was detected transiting the Miyako Strait toward the Philippine Sea. This waterway is one of the key gateways along the first island chain that the Chinese navy uses to access the broader western Pacific Ocean. What People Are Saying The Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry said on Wednesday: "Yesterday, there was a risk of airspace violation in the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, so fighter jets from the Western Air Defense Force of the Air Self-Defense Force were scrambled to respond." The Chinese Defense Ministry previously commented: "Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring, and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft for a long time, jeopardizing the safety of Chinese vessels and aircraft and easily causing maritime and air security problems." What Happens Next It was not immediately clear whether the Liaoning would carry out any military drills while operating in waters east of Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by China.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Photos Show US and China's Aircraft Carriers Deployed to Pacific Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Both the United States and China deployed their aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific Ocean on Sunday, as Washington and Beijing jostle for naval dominance in the region. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington returned to its home port in Japan—Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo—last November, after undergoing maintenance in Virginia since 2017, serving as one of the forward-deployed American warships to the allied country. Meanwhile, China is challenging the First Island Chain—formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines under the U.S. containment strategy meant to keep China's forces in check—with a fleet of more than 370 naval vessels, including two aircraft carriers in active service. The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka naval base in Japan on November 22, 2024. The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka naval base in Japan on November 22, 2024. Kyodo News via AP What To Know Photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, by a ship spotter in Japan on Sunday show the George Washington leaving its home port for sea trials. Its departure was also confirmed by a local government website that tracks visits by U.S. nuclear-powered naval vessels to Yokosuka. Lieutenant Commander Mark Langford, a public affairs officer aboard the George Washington, told Newsweek that the aircraft carrier was underway conducting "routine operations" in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of operations, which covers the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. This marked the first time the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier had left Yokosuka since its return seven months ago. The departure comes as aircraft assigned to the warship conduct field carrier landing practice on Iwo To, a Japanese island located 750 miles south of Tokyo. While the American aircraft carrier was underway in waters near Japan, the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning was spotted operating 124 miles north of Kuba Island—part of Japan's southwestern Senkaku Islands—the Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry announced. The uninhabited Senkaku Islands, also known as the Diaoyu Islands in China, are claimed by Beijing, which has intensified its assertive coast guard patrols since Tokyo nationalized the islands in 2012. The U.S. ally has accused China of attempting to alter the status quo. The Liaoning was joined by four other Chinese warships in the East China Sea, according to the report, including Type 052D destroyers CNS Qiqihar and CNS Tangshan, as well as Type 054A frigates CNS Binzhou and CNS Anyang, which were identified by hull numbers. "Takeoff and landing of carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters was confirmed," said the Japan Joint Staff, adding that a ship and an aircraft assigned to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as well as fighter jets of the Japanese air force, were deployed in response. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy previously said: "George Washington is [Seventh] Fleet's premiere forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and operates alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." Japan's defense white paper commented: "China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, where the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands are, as well as in the Pacific." The Chinese Defense Ministry previously responded: "Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring, and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft for a long time, jeopardizing the safety of Chinese vessels and aircraft and easily causing maritime and air security problems." What Happens Next The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning departs Hong Kong on July 11, 2017. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning departs Hong Kong on July 11, 2017. Kin Cheung/AP Photo It remains to be seen whether the Chinese aircraft carrier will pass through the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea and head toward the Philippine Sea, thereby breaching the island chain.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Frontline US Aircraft Carrier Near China Prepares for Military Action
The USS George Washington, a United States aircraft carrier deployed in Japan, is preparing for an upcoming patrol in the western Pacific Ocean to counter naval threats posed by China. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. The George Washingtonreturned to its home port in Japan-Yokosuka naval base near the capital city of Tokyo-in November after undergoing maintenance in Virginia since 2017. The nuclear-powered warship was previously forward-deployed to Japan from 2008 to 2015. While the George Washington has remained in Japan since its return, the U.S. deployed two aircraft carriers-USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz-to the western Pacific Ocean. The former was later sent to the Middle East, while the latter was tracked near the Indian Ocean. The forthcoming patrol of the George Washington comes as the Chinese navy-the world's largest by hull count-continues operations near Japan and Taiwan, which are a U.S. ally and partner, by deploying its aircraft carrier and a task group led by an amphibious warship. Both the U.S. Navy and the Japanese Defense Ministry announced that U.S. naval aviators assigned to the George Washington were scheduled to conduct field carrier landing practice (FCLP) on Iwo To-also known as Iwo Jima-from Monday through the end of this month. During this required training for aircraft carrier flight operations, pilots perform repetitive "touch and go" landings at the airfield to simulate landing on an aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy said. "[FCLP] is an indispensable training program for pilots of carrier-based aircraft to land on the runway of a land-based airfield as if it were the deck of an aircraft carrier in order to obtain a landing qualification when the USS George Washington departed," Tokyo added. The Japan-based U.S. aircraft carrier is equipped with various types of aircraft, including F-35C, F/A-18E and F/A-18F fighter jets. These aircraft are stationed on land at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan when not deployed aboard the George Washington. Iwo To is a Japanese island located 750 miles south of Tokyo, where a bloody World War II battle took place from February 19 to March 26, 1945. Almost 7,000 U.S. Marines were killed on the island, while the defending Japanese forces saw more than 18,000 casualties. The U.S. Navy has been conducting FCLP on Iwo To since 1989. While the island has no local population-allowing for both day and night flight operations-the Navy has said it is not a suitable permanent training site because of its remote location and lack of divert airfields. In the event that FCLP cannot be conducted on the Pacific island, four sites on Japan's main island of Honshu have been designated as backup locations for the training: Misawa Air Base, Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The U.S. Navy said: "The Navy is aware of noise concerns of the Japanese people and strives to minimize the impact of its training on local citizens while balancing our obligation to maintain operational readiness for the defense of Japan and to meet our agreements under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security." The Japanese Defense Ministry said: "[FCLP] is of great significance for the defense of Japan and for strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the United States in the region." It remains unclear when the George Washington will depart from Yokosuka naval base for its western Pacific patrol. As of Tuesday, it was still at its home port, according to a local government website that tracks visits by U.S. nuclear-powered naval vessels to Yokosuka. Related Articles US and Iran Clash Over Nuclear Red LinesPhotos Show US Coast Guard Ship Deployed to Contested Waters Near ChinaNew Boss Named for World's Biggest Construction ProjectChina's Next-Level AI Could Overtake US: New Report 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Frontline US Aircraft Carrier Near China Prepares for Military Action
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The USS George Washington, a United States aircraft carrier deployed in Japan, is preparing for an upcoming patrol in the western Pacific Ocean to counter naval threats posed by China. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The George Washington returned to its home port in Japan—Yokosuka naval base near the capital city of Tokyo—in November after undergoing maintenance in Virginia since 2017. The nuclear-powered warship was previously forward-deployed to Japan from 2008 to 2015. While the George Washington has remained in Japan since its return, the U.S. deployed two aircraft carriers—USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz—to the western Pacific Ocean. The former was later sent to the Middle East, while the latter was tracked near the Indian Ocean. The forthcoming patrol of the George Washington comes as the Chinese navy—the world's largest by hull count—continues operations near Japan and Taiwan, which are a U.S. ally and partner, by deploying its aircraft carrier and a task group led by an amphibious warship. What To Know Both the U.S. Navy and the Japanese Defense Ministry announced that U.S. naval aviators assigned to the George Washington were scheduled to conduct field carrier landing practice (FCLP) on Iwo To—also known as Iwo Jima—from Monday through the end of this month. The USS George Washington is preparing for a summer deployment, its first at-sea mission since returning to Yokosuka. The aircraft assigned to the carrier will conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at Iwo To between May 19-31. At the conclusion of the drills, the… — Ken Moriyasu (@kenmoriyasu) May 17, 2025 During this required training for aircraft carrier flight operations, pilots perform repetitive "touch and go" landings at the airfield to simulate landing on an aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy said. "[FCLP] is an indispensable training program for pilots of carrier-based aircraft to land on the runway of a land-based airfield as if it were the deck of an aircraft carrier in order to obtain a landing qualification when the USS George Washington departed," Tokyo added. The Japan-based U.S. aircraft carrier is equipped with various types of aircraft, including F-35C, F/A-18E and F/A-18F fighter jets. These aircraft are stationed on land at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan when not deployed aboard the George Washington. Iwo To is a Japanese island located 750 miles south of Tokyo, where a bloody World War II battle took place from February 19 to March 26, 1945. Almost 7,000 U.S. Marines were killed on the island, while the defending Japanese forces saw more than 18,000 casualties. The U.S. Navy has been conducting FCLP on Iwo To since 1989. While the island has no local population—allowing for both day and night flight operations—the Navy has said it is not a suitable permanent training site because of its remote location and lack of divert airfields. A United States Navy F/A-18E fighter jet taking off during field carrier landing practice on Iwo To on May 9, 2024. A United States Navy F/A-18E fighter jet taking off during field carrier landing practice on Iwo To on May 9, 2024. Staff Sgt. Devin J. Andrews/U.S. Marine Corps In the event that FCLP cannot be conducted on the Pacific island, four sites on Japan's main island of Honshu have been designated as backup locations for the training: Misawa Air Base, Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said: "The Navy is aware of noise concerns of the Japanese people and strives to minimize the impact of its training on local citizens while balancing our obligation to maintain operational readiness for the defense of Japan and to meet our agreements under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security." The Japanese Defense Ministry said: "[FCLP] is of great significance for the defense of Japan and for strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the United States in the region." What Happens Next The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington arriving at Yokosuka naval base in Japan on November 22, 2024. The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington arriving at Yokosuka naval base in Japan on November 22, 2024. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Quinton A. Lee/U.S. Navy It remains unclear when the George Washington will depart from Yokosuka naval base for its western Pacific patrol. As of Tuesday, it was still at its home port, according to a local government website that tracks visits by U.S. nuclear-powered naval vessels to Yokosuka.
