US aircraft carrier George Washington conducts first deployment of F-35C jets in Talisman Sabre exercise.

As reported by USNI News on July 16, 2025, the USS George Washington (CVN-73), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has joined Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, marking its first major international exercise since returning to forward-deployed status in Japan in November 2024. This also marks the first deployment of F-35C fighters aboard USS George Washington as part of Talisman Sabre, occurring amid the continued rise of Chinese military power in the region. Previously, the US aircraft carrier departed Manila, Philippines, on July 7, 2025, following a four-day port visit that included crew morale activities, sightseeing tours, community relations events, and meetings with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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The F‑35C is the U.S. Navy’s first carrier-specific stealth multirole fighter, featuring a larger folding‑wing design, reinforced landing gear, twin‑wheel nose gear, and enhanced tailhook to withstand catapult launches and arrested recoveries from aircraft carriers. (Picture source: US Navy)

Rear Admiral Eric J. Anduze, Commander of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group Five, met with Vice Admiral Jose M. Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy. The port visit was part of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group’s Indo-Pacific patrol and broader operations within the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet area of responsibility. The strike group’s presence aligns with U.S. efforts to coordinate with regional allies, maintain freedom of navigation, and support shared objectives in the Indo-Pacific, especially with nations such as the Philippines, with whom the United States maintains a mutual defense treaty.

The Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise officially began on July 13 and will run until July 27. It includes participation from 19 nations and a total of 35,000 troops, making it the largest iteration of the biennial series since it began in 2005. Carrier Strike Group Five includes USS George Washington, Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86), and Carrier Air Wing Five. The strike group entered the Timor Sea, likely operating north of Darwin, Australia, according to open-source assessments. Anduze confirmed that the group's role in the exercise remains consistent with typical operations, focusing on strike capabilities, allied integration, and deterrence. He emphasized the need for combined maneuvering, interoperability in contested environments, and enhancing command and control across partner navies. Although he declined to disclose specific operational locations for security reasons, he acknowledged the presence of additional allied navies beyond Australia and the United States, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway.

The UK Carrier Strike Group, centered on HMS Prince of Wales (R09), is also participating in Talisman Sabre 2025, accompanied by HMS Dauntless (D33), HMS Richmond (F239), and the fleet oiler RFA Tidespring (A136). Other allied participants include HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) from Australia, HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH-332) from Canada, and HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311) from Norway. According to Anduze, the objective of the exercise is to rehearse communications, interoperability, and tactics across multiple domains to enable effective integration during high-end maritime operations. These efforts are intended to improve coordination in real-time operational conditions, test new methods of allied integration, and contribute to the readiness of combined maritime forces operating throughout the Indo-Pacific. Amphibious task forces are also operating east of the Queensland coast, conducting parallel operations with the carrier strike group.

A notable first for Talisman Sabre 2025 is the participation of F-35C Lightning II aircraft, representing the first operational integration of the fifth-generation aircraft into the drills. The F‑35C is the U.S. Navy’s first carrier-specific stealth multirole fighter, featuring a larger 13.1-meter folding‑wing design, reinforced landing gear, twin‑wheel nose gear, and enhanced tailhook to withstand catapult launches and arrested recoveries from aircraft carriers. It carries the greatest internal fuel capacity of approximately 8,960 kg, enabling an unrefuelled combat radius of approximately 1,240 km, which exceeds that of prior Navy jets like the F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet. The jet integrates advanced sensor fusion, including AESA radar, distributed electro‑optical sensors, and datalinks that allow it to serve as a forward sensor node within the Naval Integrated Fire Control–Counter Air (NIFC‑CA) network, transmitting targeting data to ships and other aircraft. Its internal weapon bays can hold over 2,270 kg of ordnance stealthily, and it can carry up to 8,160 kg total with external stores when stealth is less essential.

According to Rear Admiral Anduze, the F-35C complements existing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers within Carrier Air Wing Five. He cited the aircraft’s increased survivability, sensor fusion, and situational awareness as operational enhancements that require real-time testing in coalition environments. The U.S. Navy’s evolving tactics also take into account the increasing complexity of threats from enemy aircraft, missiles, and submarines. Anduze referenced adjustments to the Aegis Combat System, improved defensive missiles, and developments in aircraft technology as current examples of adaptation. Although he did not detail changes in protective measures, he reiterated that the Navy is continuously reassessing threats, integrating new technologies, and applying lessons learned from joint training with allies such as Australia.

The strike group’s transit to Australia followed its departure from Manila and likely included navigation through the South China Sea, most of which China claims as territorial waters. Chinese naval forces routinely shadow foreign vessels operating in the area, including ships from the Philippines, with whom China has had repeated maritime confrontations. The transit coincided with the ninth anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s July 12, 2016, ruling, which found that China’s claims based on historical rights lacked legal basis and that Chinese maritime activities had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Australian government issued a statement acknowledging the anniversary, noting that destabilizing conduct continues in the region. These overlapping legal, political, and operational factors underscore the broader significance of Talisman Sabre as an exercise that aims to prepare allied forces for high-intensity operations while reinforcing international maritime norms.

The USS George Washington had completed its Refueling and Complex Overhaul in May 2023 at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia after an extended six-year process that began in 2017. The ship departed Norfolk on April 25, 2024, and participated in U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet’s Southern Seas 2024 deployment while en route to Naval Air Station North Island. There, the ship conducted a turnover with USS Ronald Reagan, after which George Washington proceeded to her new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan, where she arrived on November 22, 2024. The redeployment is consistent with a 2019 U.S. law limiting forward deployment of nuclear-powered warships to ten years. As the sixth ship of the Nimitz class, George Washington displaces over 104,000 tons fully loaded, carries up to 90 aircraft, and is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors driving four steam turbines and four shafts. Her top speed exceeds 30 knots. She is equipped with AN/SPS-48E and AN/SPS-49 air search radars, Phalanx CIWS, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, and Sea Sparrow launchers.

Originally commissioned on July 4, 1992, George Washington has participated in a wide range of operations, including Operation Southern Watch, Operation Damayan in the Philippines, and joint training missions across the Asia-Pacific. She has also supported humanitarian efforts in response to natural disasters, such as Typhoon Haiyan and Hurricane Matthew. In 2008, she became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier forward-deployed to Japan, replacing USS Kitty Hawk. That same year, during her transit around South America, a serious onboard fire injured 37 sailors and delayed the ship’s operational turnover. The cause was later attributed to unauthorized smoking near improperly stored flammable materials. The incident led to command changes and highlighted deficiencies in fire safety procedures, although the ship eventually resumed deployment under new leadership. Throughout her service, George Washington has made port visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, Fremantle, Da Nang, and other regional hubs, where she has engaged in combined operations and hosted diplomatic functions.