U. S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships and aircraft maneuver into formation as part of the bilateral exercise ANNUALEX.

EAST CHINA SEA (Nov. 19, 2008) U. S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships and aircraft assigned to the George Washington Carrier Strike Group and the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group maneuver into formation as part of the bilateral exercise ANNUALEX. ANNUALEX is a yearly exercise with the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to improve working relations between the two navies. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Didier File# 081119-N-6936D-369