Lincoln's F/A-18 Hornets Train During Transit West

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg, Abraham Lincoln Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- F/A-18 Hornets launched from the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and dropped dozens of live weapons at surface targets during training in the Southern California Operating Area Sept. 13.

Less than one week into deployment, Hornets and Super Hornets assigned to Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 2, 34, 137, and 151, employed Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW), releasing 22 BLU-111 bombs and seven GBU-12 laser-guided bombs during the training evolution.

The JSOW is a precision air-to-surface missile with the capability to carry several different lethal packages. JSOW's flexible release ranges allow aircraft to remain outside the threat envelopes of enemy point defenses while effectively engaging and destroying targets. JSOW is a joint Navy-Air Force program, with the Navy as the lead service.

"Realistic training is critical. Practice with live weapons is what sets the U.S. Navy apart," said Lt. Luke Swain, Carrier Air Wing 2 Strike Operations Officer. "It takes a lot of preparation and planning to properly execute JSOW missions."

The pilots were not the only ones who benefited from the experience of the JSOW training.

"It's also good training for our aviation ordnancemen to load the weapon, because the JSOW is something they don't get to see every day," said Swain.

USS Abraham Lincoln is currently underway on a scheduled deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility in support of the nation's maritime strategy.

USS Abraham Lincoln is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which consists of embarked Carrier Air Wing 2, San Diego-based guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), and the embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes the Everett-based destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Shoup (DDG 86), as well as the San Diego-based destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).