[tomkow6]

At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Feb. 17, 2003 -- An F/A-18C “Hornet”, armed with the AIM-9M Sidewinder missile, stands ready for launch. The Sidewinder missile is a short-range, heat seeking, air-intercept missile, used by 28 different nations including the United States. Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are in the Indian Ocean with coalition forces in that area. Kitty Hawk is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom.

[tomkow6]

At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Feb. 17, 2003 -- The guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) approaches Kitty Hawk for an underway replenishment (UNREP) in the Arabian Gulf. The Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are in the Indian Ocean with coalition forces in that area. Kitty Hawk is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom.