Exercise Valiant Shield

[1] According to the Navy, Valiant Shield focuses on cooperation between military branches and on the detection, tracking, and engagement of units at sea, in the air, and on land in response to a wide range of missions.

It was the largest military exercise to be conducted by the United States in Pacific waters since the Vietnam War, and it was also the first time observers from the People's Republic of China were allowed to view U.S. wargames.

Forces exercised a wide range of skills, including maritime interdiction; defense counter-air; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and command and control.

[3] Observers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy were invited to attend, as were naval officers from India, Singapore, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Rear Admiral Zhang Leiyu, leader of the delegation, called the visit to the war games near Guam "a positive step in China-U.S. military ties."

Official Seal of Valiant Shield 2006
B-52 and F/A-18 aircraft flying over the Carrier Strike Group Five during Valiant Shield 2018
A B-52 Stratofortress leads a formation of Air Force and Navy F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, and F-18 Hornets over the USS Kitty Hawk, USS Nimitz and USS John C. Stennis Strike Groups during Valiant Shield 2007.
Observers from China at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam
USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) during the exercise, with fighter and bomber planes flying overhead
Attack submarine USS Houston , (SSN-713) takes periscope reading on the SS Petersburg , (T-AOT-9101) .
B-2 Spirit stealth bomber from Missouri leads aerial formation.
A B-2 Spirit leading the USS Kitty Hawk , USS Ronald Reagan , and the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups
Sailors from the Navy Special Warfare (NSW) community, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians and Navy SEALs conduct a static-line parachute jump off the coast of Guam from HH-60H helicopters.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryan Romero, a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, observes the offload of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement in support of Valiant Shield 2022 on Palau, May 31, 2022. Exercises such as Valiant Shield enable real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samuel C. Fletcher)