Sea Dragon is a multinational train designed to reinforce anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ways in response to shared conventional and non-traditional maritime safety challenges within the Indo-Pacific area. Sea Dragon 2024 introduced Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Plane (MPRA) communities collectively from the Royal Australian Air Drive (RAAF), Indian Navy (IN), Japan Maritime Self-Protection Drive (JMSDF), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), and the USA Navy.
The 2-week train, which started Jan. 9, demonstrated profitable integration and deepening interoperability between allies and companions within the Indo-Pacific area.
“Train Sea Dragon is a big airborne ASW coaching alternative, targeted on enhancing interoperability and sharing tactical innovation amongst our companions and allies within the area,” Capt. Zachary Stang, CTF-72 Commodore mentioned. “These coaching workouts assist us develop as a dynamic workforce and deter those that would problem our purpose of sustaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Commander, Activity Drive (CTF) 72 despatched one P-8A Poseidon plane from the “Preventing Tigers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8. Upon train completion, squadrons accomplished seven missions with roughly 37 flight hours logged between all individuals.
JMSDF received this yr’s Sea Dragon Championship Belt, highlighting excessive scores in simulated torpedo deployment velocity and accuracy. The IN, JMSDF, and RAAF had been awarded extra prizes for different notable ASW performances through the competitors.
“The Kawasaki P-1 is an effective plane at low velocity and low altitude,” mentioned Lt. j.g. Ikeda Hayato, assigned to JMSDF Air Patrol Squadron 3. “We’re very joyful to take part in train Sea Dragon.”
Allied and associate plane collaborating on this train included the RAAF P-8A Poseidon, JMSDF Kawasaki P-1, ROKN P-3 Orion, and IN P-8I Neptune.
“These missions allowed us to check our abilities and work carefully with these companions, making ready the Air Drive to combine right into a maritime atmosphere and supply efficient deterrence for Australia’s safety,” mentioned Squadron Chief Jacqueline Killian, RAAF train Sea Dragon Detachment Commander. “Crews engaged in figuring out, monitoring, and concentrating on each simulated and stay submarine targets, culminating in a 24-hour steady monitoring exercise. The ultimate occasion required important coordination between all collaborating nations, constructing on the teachings from the earlier week, and allowed us to work collectively effectively and safely to efficiently obtain the duty.”
In the course of the train, aircrews additionally coordinated ASW evolutions towards simulated and follow targets, demonstrating their info sharing and interoperability.
The “Preventing Tigers” of VP-8, a part of CTF-72, are stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, and are presently deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. All through the deployment, the squadron has performed maritime patrol and reconnaissance, and theater outreach operations throughout the U.S. seventh Fleet space of operations.
U.S. seventh Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and companions in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific area.
