Scheduled Hull Swap Enables Full Wing Participation

The U.S. Navy’s Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 completed its Air Wing Fallon (AWF) training on September 13. The scheduled hull swap between USS George Washington and USS Ronald Reagan at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, California, allowed the units to train as a fully integrated air wing.

Under normal circumstances, CVW-5's participation in AWF is limited due to operational demands in the Indo-Pacific. This is a part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed naval forces operation. However, the hull swap provided a rare opportunity for comprehensive training of the wing.

““The true value of the AWF course and training at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) stems from our ability to test the air wing in effectively countering peer threats through the synchronization of kinetic and non-kinetic fires while fully integrating all air wing platforms,” commented Capt. John Stigi, head of the NAWDC strike department.

Over a five-week period, CVW-5 completed mission planning, rehearsals in virtual environments, and live-flight operations at NAS Fallon. Their strike instructors were junior officer weapons instructors (WTIs) chosen by NAWDC from each CVW platform.

“I am extremely proud of our team, who had just four weeks to integrate the F-35C, the new EA-18Gs and the DSSC 4.0 E-2Ds into the air wing before starting AWF,” stated CVW-5 Commander Capt. Patrick Corrigan. “This process rigorously tested every element of mission planning, tactical execution and debriefing, and as a result, we are now a more lethal air wing.”

The USS George Washington and USS Ronald Reagan swap was scheduled alongside the Japanese government and is a part of the Navy’s 50-year lifespan plan for its Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. This plan aims to keep “the most advanced and capable warships” in operation in the Indo-Pacific, the Navy explained.

This will be the second time George Washington has been given the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Japan (FDNF-J) aircraft carrier role. Washington was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to act as FDNF-J, taking service in 2008 and being relieved by Reagan 7 years later.

FMI: www.navy.mil