The US Navy released footage of F-35B Joint Strike Fighters conducting flight operations from the deck of the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. The clip also showed one of the jets conducting live-fire training with its 25mm underbelly gun pod. “The F-35Bs are providing close-air support to Operation Octave Quartz [OOQ],” the video’s caption says. “The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.”

Photo by USN