(29 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
USS carrier Gerald R. Ford, Mediterranean Sea – 29 July 2025
1. Warplanes on the deck of the USS aircraft carrier Gerald Ford seen through the bridge’s glasses
2. US Navy Officer standing on the bridge overlooking the flight deck
3. Airplanes and personnel on the flight deck, silhouette of officer in the foreground
4. Crew members and planes on the flight deck
5. Crew members pulling a cart with rockets as an F-18 fighter jet is taxing on then flight deck
6. Crew member gesturing to signal pilots as jets move on the flight deck
7. Various of fighter jets taking off
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, Commander Carrier Strike Group 12:
“It’s really just a privilege to be participating in NATO’s Neptune Strike. The foundation of our alliance is our shared values as NATO, and on the sea, freedom of navigation at sea and it’s just security and prosperity throughout the region.”
9. Various of crew members on the flight deck making signs to a fighter jet pilot as it moves into position to take off
10. Mid of fighter jet launching from carrier
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, Commander Carrier Strike Group 12:
“As the centerpiece of Carrier Strike Group 12, this is our most adaptable, our most capable and maneuverable naval mission package that you are going to find in the world, and when added to our allies here in the region we really just present an amazing, amazing force. We work together, that’s when we’re able really show how we are interoperable, how we’re ready to maintain readiness, and really just get after all of the mission aspects of our tasking at sea.”
12. Sea seen from the hangar below deck
13. Personnel walking by an aircraft parked in the hangar
14. Radar plane parked in the hangar
15. Close of Navy and American flag graffiti on the wall of the hangar, fighter jets in the foreground
16. Crew member getting off a plane in the hangar
17. Various of warplanes parked in the hangar
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, Commander Carrier Strike Group 12:
“We’ve worked with forces from Finland, from Greece, from Italy, and France, out here on the high seas, and in the air, and there is just no doubt that we’re able to, as an alliance, deter any threat, so our biggest strength as NATO is our ability to come together to work with the maximum level of interoperability.”
19. Various of fighter jets landing on the carrier
20. Various of crew members on the flight deck
STORYLINE:
The US Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, the largest and newest carrier currently in operation in the world, is taking part in drills alongside ships and fighter jets from seven other NATO nations.
It comes as NATO forces began the second part of naval exercises focusing on the integration of different military forces within the transatlantic alliance.
The “Neptune Strike” exercises include long-range strike missions across NATO’s areas of operations, reaching as far as the Baltic and the Black Sea regions.
The exercise “is defensive in nature and not directed towards any third party,” NATO said in a statement.
“As the centerpiece of Carrier Strike Group 12, this is our most adaptable, our most capable and maneuverable naval mission package that you are going to find in the world, and when added to our allies here in the region we really just present an amazing, amazing force,” US Navy Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, Commander of the Carrier Strike Group 12, told journalists on board.
AP video by Andrea Rosa
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