The US Navy's Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), the air wing complement to the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG), stands ready for a variety of missions.

The CSG arrived in the Middle East on July 19 "to deter aggression, promote regional stability, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region," US Central Command said in a statement.

The strike group includes the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, CVW-11 and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell, USS Daniel K. Inouye and USS Halsey.

CVW-11 was established in the midst of World War II and has taken part in every major combat operation of the last 80 years, including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve.

It consists of nine air squadrons, including four strike fighter squadrons, one airborne command and control squadron, an electronic attack squadron, a fleet logistics squadron and two helicopter squadrons.

The carrier air wing is tasked with preservation of local air and sea superiority and detection and destruction of adversary assets, including the interception of enemy aircraft and missiles in all-weather conditions and all-weather offensive air-to-surface attacks.

CVW-11 can detect, track, localize and destroy adversary ships and submarines to degrade and destroy enemy maritime capabilities. It can perform airborne electronic countermeasures, interfering with adversary radar, sonar and other detection systems.

Further, the carrier air wing conducts aerial reconnaissance to provide early warning to fleet forces and support for naval and joint missions with aerial photographic, sighting and electronic intelligence.

The wing is responsible for providing critical combat search and rescue functions and is fully equipped to conduct aerial medical evacuations.

The Super Hornet

The squadrons of CVW-11 fly F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, C-2A Greyhounds and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

The supersonic multi-role Super Hornet fighter, the US Navy's primary strike and air superiority aircraft, is the centerpiece of CVW-11.

The Super Hornet is known for its impressive flexibility.

It can conduct missions including close air support, forward air control, air defense suppression reconnaissance, day or night strike, escort and aerial refueling.

Equipped with an M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon, the Super Hornet can carry an expansive array of air-to-air ordnance, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the AIM-7 Sparrow and the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.

For ground attack, it can be equipped with the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon glide-bomb, the GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition, Supersonic Low Altitude Missile multi-purpose land mines and Paveway laser guided bombs.