Carl Vinson Deployment Was Navy's Test Case for 5th-Gen Aviation, Pacific Carrier Operations -...

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) pulled into its homeport of San Diego, Calif., on Monday after a six-and-a-half month deployment that saw the carrier operating exclusively in the Indo-Pacific region.

With the first deployment of the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and the Navy’s new CMV-22B carrier onboard delivery platform, the service had the chance to see how its new platforms would integrate into the air wing for consistent operations in waters like the South China Sea.

“It’s indicative of the competition amongst great powers … and in the end to compete, you got to be on the court to win. And you all spending all that time in the [U.S.] 7th Fleet [area of responsibility] is indicative of that,” U.S. 3rd Fleet commander Vice Adm. Steve Koehler told sailors over the 1MC Monday morning, as the carrier made its way to the pier at Naval Air Station North Island.

While the deployment allowed the crew to operate new aircraft aboard the carrier, it also included a high operational tempo of exercises with both regional and global allies and partners ranging from the United Kingdom to Japan to India.