Japan's Minister of State for Defense visits USS Kitty Hawk

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. Japan's Minister of State for Defense visits USS Kitty Hawk by JO1 Lance R. Lindley, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

SEA OF JAPAN (NNS) -- Japan's Minister of State for Defense visited USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Nov. 8 while the ship participated in Exercise Keen Sword in the Sea of Japan.

The Honorable Fukushiro Nukaga and 10 other Japanese dignitaries arrived in a C-2A "Greyhound" aircraft. They then boarded two Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 14 aircraft piloted by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) for a visit to the Japanese Defense Ship (JDS) Myoko, also participating in the joint exercise.

After returning to Kitty Hawk from the Myoko, the visitors were briefed on the carrier's capabilities by Rear Adm. Timothy J. Keating, Commander, Task Force 70. They then watched an air power demonstration consisting of various flight maneuvers performed by Carrier Air Wing (CVW) FIVE pilots. The guests also toured the ship to get a feel for how Kitty Hawk and CVW-5 operate at sea.

Exercise Keen Sword was a bilateral maritime exercise conducted Nov. 5-12 in the waters around Japan. The exercise improved both the Japanese and American navies' capability to conduct coordinated, bilateral operations in the defense of Japan. In particular, the exercise focused on enhancing military-to-military relationships, as well as fostering improved command and control, air, undersea and surface warfare.

Kitty Hawk, America's only permanently forward- deployed aircraft carrier operates from Yokosuka, Japan. Carrier Air Wing FIVE is forward-deployed to Atsugi, Japan, and is permanently assigned to Kitty Hawk.