In today’s Photo, we go to the waters near Guam and take part in the exercise Pacific Griffin as USS Gabrielle Giffords launches a Naval Strike Missile (NSM).

Unknown to many this missile is developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace as an open sea anti-ship/land attack cruise missile.

In this operation, the NSM works as a long-range, precision strike weapon that is designed to find and destroy enemy ships.

Below: Here you can see the missile taking off, somewhere in the Philippine Sea.

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) launches a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during exercise Pacific Griffin. The NSM is a long-range, precision strike weapon that is designed to find and destroy enemy ships. Pacific Griffin is a biennial exercise conducted in the waters near Guam aimed at enhancing combined proficiency at sea while strengthening relationships between the U.S. and Republic of Singapore navies.

Here is a closer look at the missile.

PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 1, 2019) Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) launches a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during exercise Pacific Griffin. The NSM is a long-range, precision strike weapon that is designed to find and destroy enemy ships. Pacific Griffin is a biennial exercise conducted in the waters near Guam aimed at enhancing combined proficiency at sea while strengthening relationships between the U.S. and Republic of Singapore navies. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago/Released)

Below: Sailors offload ordnance from an F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 on the flight deck of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

Below: An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the “Flying Leathernecks” of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 122 lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America is currently underway conducting routine operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vance Hand/Released)

All photos by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vance Hand.