The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JDS Atago transits in formation with U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships during Annual Exercise 2011.
Annual Exercise is a bi-lateral field training exercise designed to practice and evaluate the coordination procedures and interoperability elements required to respond to the defense of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, according to the U.S. Navy.
Fourteen ships, 70 aircraft and 9,000 service members are reportedly participating in AE 11 on the U.S. side alone, making AE 11 the biggest to date.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga, destroyer JS Shimakaze and P-3 Orion aircrafts participated in AE 11.
In addition to George Washington, other U.S. ships participating in AE11 include the guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens, the guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Dewey, USS Lassen, USS Stethem and USS Wayne E. Meyer. Other ships include the amphibious ship USS Tortuga, mine countermeasure ships USS Guardian and USS Patriot; as well as and U.S. submarines, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
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