LCS 18 Photos

USS Charleston participates in joint training exercise La Pérouse 2023

230314-N-HG846-1021 BAY OF BENGAL (Mar. 14, 2023) – Mineman 2nd Class Santiago Lopez, from Bronx, New York, directs a French Navy H160 Airbus to land on the flight deck aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) during joint training exercise La Pérouse 2023 in the Bay of Bengal, March 14. La Pérouse is a multilateral exercise designed to enhance cooperation in the field of maritime surveillance, interdiction operations and air operations by progressive training and information sharing. Charleston, part of Destroyer Squadron 7, is on a rotational deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Serianni)