A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ShinMaywa US-2 aircraft, assigned to Air Rescue Squadron 71 (ARS-71), Fleet Air Wing 31, takes off from alongside U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a casualty evacuation exercise for Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the South China Sea, April 27, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington)
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2026 08:02 |
| Photo ID: | 9653182 |
| VIRIN: | 260427-N-DC740-2270 |
| Resolution: | 4328x2885 |
| Size: | 3.33 MB |
| Location: | SOUTH CHINA SEA |
| Web Views: | 6 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Balikatan 2026: Casualty Evacuation Exercise [Image 19 of 19], by PO1 John Hetherington, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.