The United States has deployed three naval vessels capable of operating F-35 stealth fighter jets across the Western Pacific this week amid China’s rapidly growing sea power and expanding maritime activity in the region.
The Deployment
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of operations as of Wednesday. The carrier, which operates F-35C jets, left San Diego in late November for a Pacific deployment.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which also operates F-35C jets, continued operations in the Philippine Sea on Monday following its visit to Guam. The carrier is expected to return to its home port at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on Thursday for rest, replenishment and maintenance.
In the South China Sea, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, which carries F-35B jets, arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, with the cruiser USS Robert Smalls on Monday for a visit marking the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam relations. The Tripoli has been conducting F-35B night operations to enhance Indo-Pacific airpower.
The F-35 Variants
The F-35 family includes three variants: the A model for conventional runways, the B model designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings from ships without full-length flight decks, and the C model built for aircraft carrier operations. The U.S. military has stationed F-35B and F-35C jets in Japan.
Context
The deployment comes as part of the Pentagon’s efforts to contain the military threat from China, which is aiming to modernize its armed forces to reach “world-class” status by 2049. The U.S. Navy has maintained a strong presence in the Western Pacific as China has deployed groups of warships—including aircraft carriers—in the region to signal its naval power.
In December 2025, China deployed over 100 naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters, the largest maritime show of force in the region’s history. Earlier this month, Chinese J-15 fighters locked fire-control radar on Japanese F-15 jets near Okinawa, marking a significant escalation in regional military brinkmanship.
The 7th Fleet is the largest U.S. forward-deployed fleet, with 50 to 70 vessels, 150 aircraft and more than 27,000 personnel operating in its area at a time.
Overview
The deployment of three F-35-capable vessels across the Western Pacific demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s commitment to maintaining presence and readiness in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s expanding naval operations and increasingly assertive military posture in the region.
