image-title: A+pair+of+P-3+maritime+reconnaissance+aircraft+over+the+Pacific.+The+Australian+government+is+considering+flying+such+an+aircraft+within+12+nautical+miles+of+Chinese-claimed+territory.+Source+US+Department+of+Defense

A U.S. Navy P-3 Orion from the Skinny Dragons of Patrol Squadron 4 leads a Japanese P-3 in flight over a Bilateral Force of U.S. and Japanese ships. The ships in formation are; USS Key West(SSN 722), USS Vandergrift(FFG 48), USS California(CGN 36), USS Chancellorsville(CG 62),USS Port Royal(CG 73), JDS Kirishima(DDG 174), JDS Shirane(DDH 143), JDS Murasame(DD101), JDS Harusame(DD 102), and JDS Towada(AOE 422). The operations are part of RIMPAC 98.