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PHILIPPINE SEA (April 22, 2025) — A Sailor awaits confirmation to signal the seating of the catapult onto an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Kestrels" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137 before launching from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Philippine Sea, April 22, 2025. Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations on a scheduled deployment, demonstrating the U.S. Navy's unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Carson Croom)