Editing USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) (section)

===1998 to 2008===
[[File:USS Independence (CV-62) and Kitty Hawk (CV-63) at Pearl Harbor 1998.JPEG|thumb|''Kitty Hawk'' (right) relieves {{USS|Independence|CV-62|2}} at Pearl Harbor as the 7th Fleet forward-deployed carrier]]
[[File:KittyHawkScrub.jpg|thumb|A navy petty officer supervises sailors performing a flight deck scrub down on board ''Kitty Hawk'' in August 2005]]
[[File:Aircraft elevator USS Kitty Hawk.jpg|thumb|right|An F/A-18C on the forward elevator on board ''Kitty Hawk'']]
[[File:USS Kitty Hawk at Yokosuka.jpg|thumb|right|''Kitty Hawk'' docks at the U.S. navy base in [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa|Yokosuka, Japan]]]]

''Kitty Hawk'' departed San Diego on 6 July 1998, to assume new duties as America's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier from {{USS|Independence|CV-62|2}}. ''Kitty Hawk'' also welcomed aboard [[Carrier Air Wing 5]], operating from [[Naval Air Facility Atsugi]], Japan. ''Kitty Hawk'' arrived at her new operating location of [[U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka]], Japan, on 11 August 1998.

With the decommissioning of ''Independence'' on 30 September 1998, ''Kitty Hawk'' became the second-oldest active warship in the US Navy and was authorized to fly the [[First Navy Jack]].

''Kitty Hawk'' set sail for a planned three-month underway period on 2 March 1999, which included Exercise Tandem Thrust off [[Guam]]. Following the exercise, the ''Kitty Hawk''/[[CVW-5]] team was ordered to the Persian Gulf to enforce the [[No-Fly Zone]] over Southern Iraq. CVW-5 pilots flew more than 8,800 sorties in 116 days, including 1,300 combat sorties, dropping more than 20&nbsp;tons of ordnance. On the return trip to Japan, ''Kitty Hawk'' made port visits to [[Perth, Western Australia]], and [[Pattaya]], Thailand. ''Kitty Hawk'' returned to Yokosuka on 25 August 1999. She was again underway to the Sea of Japan on 22 October to participate in Exercises [[Foal Eagle]] and AnnualEx 11G.

On 11 April 2000, ''Kitty Hawk'' departed Yokosuka, Japan, for routine local area operations and participated in [[Cobra Gold|Exercise Cobra Gold]] with the navies of Singapore and Thailand. ''Kitty Hawk'' participated in [[Foal Eagle|Exercise Foal Eagle]] in Fall 2000 and deployed again in March 2001 for a Spring underway period with a historic stop. On 22 March, ''Kitty Hawk'' became the first aircraft carrier to ever moor pier-side in [[Singapore]], as the ship visited the brand new Changi Pier, located at the [[Republic of Singapore Navy]]'s [[Changi Naval Base]]. On 29 April, shortly after a visit to Guam, ''Kitty Hawk'' celebrated 40 years of active service as the ship and crew sailed south to participate in [[Exercise Talisman Saber|Exercise Tandem Thrust]] 2001 with the Australian and Canadian navies. The ship returned to Yokosuka on 11 June 2001.

On 17 October 2000, and again on 9 November 2000, ''Kitty Hawk'' was buzzed by a group of Russian warplanes in the [[Sea of Japan]], which proceeded to take pictures of the reaction on deck. General [[Anatoly Kornukov]], then Russian air force's commander in chief, stated that the Russian warplanes managed to evade ''Kitty Hawk''{{'}}s antiaircraft defense system and that "In the pictures, you can clearly see the panic on deck."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-16-mn-52886-story.html |title=Russians Cocky Over U.S. Encounter |first1=Robyn |last1=Dixon |first2=Paul |last2=Richter |date=16 November 2000 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=25 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307122537/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/nov/16/news/mn-52886 |archive-date=7 March 2014}}</ref>

In October 2001, ''Kitty Hawk'' deployed to the North Arabian Sea for the beginning of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]. The ship served as an afloat forward staging base for the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.komonews.com/news/38754527.html |title=Alums sad at USS Kitty Hawk's last goodbye |last=Friedrich |first=Ed |date=31 January 2009 |website=[[KOMO News]] |access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016050758/http://www.komonews.com/news/38754527.html |archive-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> with a reduced air wing.

In April 2002, ''Kitty Hawk'' was underway for her scheduled spring training. Along with a Guam port call, the spring underway included port visits to Singapore and Hong Kong, where the crew celebrated ''Kitty Hawk''{{'}}s 41st birthday. In the fall of 2002, ''Kitty Hawk'' was training in the Western Pacific. ''Kitty Hawk'' and her battle group combined with U.S. Air Force units and elements of the [[Japan Maritime Self Defense Force]] to conduct AnnualEx 14G in the waters surrounding Japan. Later, the ship and her crew made a port visit to Hong Kong.

[[File:US Navy 031013-N-2101W-002 The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) gets underway after completing a successful five-month overhaul by Ship's Repair Force, Yokosuka, Japan.jpg|thumb|left|''Kitty Hawk'' is maneuvered into the water following the completion of her five-month maintenance period in 2003]]

On 11 September 2002, all US Navy ships were ordered to fly the [[First Navy Jack]]. The ship once again departed Yokosuka on 23 January 2003 for a routine training mission,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv63-kittyhawk/cv63-kittyhawk.html |title=A Brief History of Aircraft Carriers – USS ''Kitty Hawk'' (CV 63) |date=2 June 2003 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416033850/http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv63-kittyhawk/cv63-kittyhawk.html |archive-date=16 April 2009}}</ref> but a short time later, orders were received to transit to the [[U.S. Central Command]] area of responsibility to support the [[War on Terrorism|Global War on Terrorism]] and to prepare for future contingencies. ''Kitty Hawk'' was soon involved in [[Operation Southern Watch|Operations Southern Watch]] and [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraqi Freedom]] in the North Persian Gulf. Although the cruise was originally intended to be short, the ship served 110 continuous days at sea. ''Kitty Hawk'' returned to Yokosuka on 6 May 2003, immediately entering an extensive drydock period, or drydocking ship's restricted availability (DSRA), that lasted until October of that year.

In 2005 ''Kitty Hawk'' participated in the inaugural edititon of [[Exercise Talisman Saber]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/talisman_sabre/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050713122123/http://www.defence.gov.au/talisman_sabre/|title=Talisman Sabre|publisher=Department of Defence|date=2005|archivedate=13 July 2005}}</ref> In October 2006, ''Kitty Hawk'' and her escort warships were undergoing exercises near Okinawa, and a Chinese [[Song class|''Song''-class]] submarine shadowed the group then surfaced within {{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on}} of the group on 26 October 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/news/a18094/a-chinese-submarine-stalked-an-american-aircraft-carrier/ |title=A Chinese Submarine Stalked an American Aircraft Carrier |first=Kyle |last=Mizokami |date=6 November 2015 |website=[[Popular Mechanics]] |access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> It was considered to be quite rare for Chinese subs to operate that far from their home ports on the mainland, though with this incident that may be changing. Reports claim that the submarine had been undetected until it surfaced.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/nov/13/20061113-121539-3317r/ |title=China sub secretly stalked U.S. fleet |last=Gertz |first=Bill |date=13 November 2006 |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/01/red_china_red_lines.asp |title=Red China & Red Lines |last=Goldfarb |first=Michael |date=12 January 2007 |magazine=[[The Weekly Standard]] |access-date=11 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106195804/http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/01/red_china_red_lines.asp |archive-date=6 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/164/documentid/3652/history/3,2360,656,164,3652 |title=Iran, China Intent on Countering Navies |last=Howland |first=Jonathan |date=18 January 2007 |website=[[JINSA]] Online |access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624124553/http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/164/documentid/3652/history/3,2360,656,164,3652 |archive-date=24 June 2008}}</ref> In 2009, [[Timothy J. Keating]], commander of the [[United States Pacific Command]], commented on the issue, stating that the carrier was "in a very relaxed posture. If there were some heightened state of tension, we would, believe me, we would not let them get that close."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/26/inside-the-ring-20218668/ |title=Inside the Ring: China intelligence gaps |last=Gertz |first=Bill |date=26 February 2009 |newspaper=The Washington Times |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref>

On 11 January 2007, ''Kitty Hawk'' entered a scheduled period of maintenance in Yokosuka, her place being taken by {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|2}} which made an unscheduled deployment three weeks later. This refit is "smaller than the one the ship completed [in 2006]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27365 |title=Kitty Hawk Enters Maintenance Period |last=Reinhardt |first=Matthew |date=19 January 2007 |website=U.S. Navy, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs |access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114164259/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27365 |archive-date=14 January 2009}}</ref> which took six months.

On 5 July 2007, ''Kitty Hawk'' arrived at Sydney, Australia, for six days of shore leave after participating in [[Exercise Talisman Sabre]].

On 21 September 2007, ''Kitty Hawk'' pulled into Yokosuka, Japan, after a four-month summer deployment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kittyhawk.navy.mil/ |title=Kitty Hawk returns from summer deployment |website=USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) |access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008201106/http://www.kittyhawk.navy.mil/ |archive-date=8 October 2007}}</ref>

In November 2007, ''Kitty Hawk'' and other US Navy ships participated in the joint military exercise [[Malabar (naval exercise)|Malabar]], in the [[Bay of Bengal]]. Other nations that took part were Australia, Japan, Singapore and host nation [[India]]. Later that month, ''Kitty Hawk'' was scheduled to dock at Hong Kong for Thanksgiving.<ref name=APNov23>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Japan-US-Warships-Barred.html |title=After Snub by China, Sailors Celebrate |date=23 November 2007 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=23 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However, China denied entry to ''Kitty Hawk'' and the rest of her carrier group. China then reversed its position based on humanitarian grounds but by that time, ''Kitty Hawk'' was too far away to dock in time for the holiday. The cause of the Chinese refusal remains unclear.<ref name=CNN>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/hongkong.us.warships.ap/ |title=U.S. commander 'perplexed' by China's refusal of warship visit |agency=Associated Press |date=23 November 2007 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=23 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126084720/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/hongkong.us.warships.ap/ |archive-date=26 November 2007}}</ref>

''Kitty Hawk'' was deployed off the coast of China along with two other ships during the Taiwan election on 20 March 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-taiwan-crriers/u-s-carriers-sent-toward-taiwan-before-election-idUSN1934158120080319 |title=U.S. carriers sent toward Taiwan before election |date=19 March 2008 |website=Reuters |access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> After the elections, she entered Hong Kong for the last time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3903262 |title=Troops', Families' Holiday Reunion Ruined |date=19 February 2009 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref>

On 28 May 2008, ''Kitty Hawk'' departed Japan for the last time, to be replaced in Japan by ''George Washington''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359065,00.html |title=USS Kitty Hawk, Navy's Oldest Active Ship, Leaves Japan to Be Decommissioned |date=28 May 2008 |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=19 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020051540/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359065,00.html |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, during ''George Washington''{{'}}s transit of the Pacific Coast of South America en route to the planned turnover with ''Kitty Hawk'' in [[Hawaii]], a major fire broke out that led to ''Washington'' diverting to San Diego for repairs. This led to the US Navy retaining ''Kitty Hawk'' in Hawaii to take part in the [[RIMPAC|RIMPAC 2008]] exercises in June and July.<ref name="starbulletinRIMPAC">{{cite news |url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/07/04/news/story11.html |title=Kitty Hawk remains in Hawaii for RIMPAC |last=Kakesako |first=Gregg K. |date=4 July 2008 |newspaper=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |access-date=21 February 2019 |archive-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011175130/http://starbulletin.com/2008/07/04/news/story11.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 7 August 2008, ''Kitty Hawk'' arrived at [[NAS North Island]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20080807-1347-bn07kitty.html |title=''Kitty Hawk'' makes last visit to North Island |last=Liewer |first=Steve |date=7 August 2008 |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |access-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812074920/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20080807-1347-bn07kitty.html |archive-date=12 August 2008}}</ref>