Central Command Area of Responsibility (Feb. 17, 2003) - An F/A-18C Hornet sits ready on catapult three, one of four steam-powered catapults aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.

Central Command Area of Responsibility (Feb. 17, 2003) - An F/A-18C Hornet sits ready on catapult three, one of four steam-powered catapults aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 remain mission-ready to respond to emergent national tasking where needed, and were recently ordered to the Central Command area of responsibility to join coalition forces preparing for possible operations in that area. Kitty Hawk is the U.S. Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)