Overview

• The U.S. carrier is operating between Denmark and Norway during NATO’s Neptune Strike, which runs concurrently across the North Sea, Baltic, Mediterranean and Adriatic.
• Thirteen nations have deployed about 20 ships with several submarines, special forces and more than 10,000 personnel for the multi-theater training.
• Realism includes limited live weapons use, with a combat aircraft dropping several rockets on a Latvian training range on Thursday.
• Carrier Air Wing Eight commander Capt. David J. Dartez said the drills help refine tactics and vowed, “We will always be prepared,” while ship leadership reported no fear on board.
• The Gerald R. Ford fields electromagnetic catapults and parallel launch-and-recovery operations for a roughly 90-aircraft air wing, and its next destination was not disclosed.