CARIBBEAN SEA (July 4, 2021) The Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Sioux City (LCS 11), USS Wichita (LCS 13), USS Billings (LCS 15), and their embarked aviation detachments participate in a maritime training exercise, July 4, 2021. This exercise marks the first time three Freedom-variant littoral combat ships are deployed and operating together. Sioux City, Wichita, and Billings are deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Austin G. Collins)