Exercise Chesapeake 2018 is the first-ever training to fully integrate a French Navy air wing into a single, unified carrier air wing, Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8).

This historic first in naval aviation is another demonstration of the Navy’s implementation of the National Defense Strategy and its direction to strengthen alliances and deepen collaboration to become a more lethal force.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson met with his counterpart, Chief of Staff of the French Navy Adm. Christophe Prazuck, aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) May 14 to observe the high-end combined training currently underway between the U.S and French navies. – US Navy

Featured image of a Rafale Marine attached to squadron 17F of the French navy launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Mora Jr.

USS George H.W. Bush french navy rafale marine