Posted: 10/01/2016
PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 1, 2016) An E/A-18G Growler assigned to the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 launches from the flight deck of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The primary mission of the E/A-18G Growler is suppression of enemy air defenses in support of strike aircraft and ground troops by interrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence within the combat area. Ronald Reagan, the Carrier Strike Group Five (CSG 5) flagship, is on patrol supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Burke