U.S. Forces Conduct Joint Exercise “Strong Shield” in Indo-Pacific Region

The U.S. military held its biennial joint exercise in the Indo-Pacific region, demonstrating multiservice coordination and firing live ammunition.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announced that naval formations from the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier strike group joined more than 11,000 troops and 100 aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Army in the Philippine Sea Sept. 25 to complete the Valiant Shield 2020 joint exercise, which included U.S. Air Force F-22 (Raptor) fighter jets and B-1B long-range strategic bombers.

During the exercise, the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group tracked and located targets in different areas and then launched combined air and sea strikes, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The strike group conducted several multi-platform missile launches during the exercise to improve the integrated response capability of forward-deployed U.S. forces; the USS Antietam missile cruiser fired Tomahawks during the exercise. Cruise missiles were used to launch an attack on a shore-based target, while carrier-based aircraft from the USS Reagan, along with other combatant ships and Air Force aircraft, sank the decommissioned frigate USS Curts by firing live rounds at the target ship.

“Rear Admiral George M. Wikoff, commander of the USS Reagan Carrier Strike Group, said, “The high-end joint exercise demonstrates our ability to rapidly deploy a prepared, mobile, and lethal force capable of responding to any eventuality on the ground with overwhelming combat power. to respond.”

“Colonel Pat Hannifin, commander of the aircraft carrier USS Reagan, said, “Exercise Tough Shield demonstrates our nation’s strong commitment to the Western Pacific and our regional allies. “, “The USS Reagan aircraft carrier exercises jointly with our partners in the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force to ensure that a lethal and agile global force can answer the call for rapid and sustained combat missions wherever they are needed. “

The “Strong Shield” joint exercise has been conducted every two years since 2006, and this year was the eighth exercise.