New Delhi, Jan 20 (FN Bureau) The Indian Navy’s Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft P8I participated in Exercise Sea Dragon-22 that concluded at Guam, USA on Wednesday, Indian Navy said in a statement on Thursday. The navies of USA, Japan, Canada, Australia and South Korea also participated in the multinational Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Exercise Sea Dragon held at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in the Western Pacific, a statement by US Navy had said earlier. “The exercise was aimed to enhance interoperability among participating nations by evolving common tactics in response to emerging traditional and non-traditional security challenges in maritime domain,” Indian Navy said in a statement. “Naval aircraft from the six navies participated in the exercise. These aircraft included P8A, P8I, P1, CP140 Aurora and P3C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Indian Navy’s aircrew also undertook professional interaction with other participants from friendly foreign countries,” added Indian Navy.
Sea Dragon is a US led multi-national exercise designed to practice and discuss Anti-submarine Warfare tactics to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise assumes significance in the face of strained relations with China and growing forays of the PLA-Navy into the Indian ocean region. The Indian Navy has recently inducted two more Poseidon 8I maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, which would further boost its ability to keep an eye over the Chinese ships and submarines in the region. “Sea Dragon 22, primarily centers on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training and excellence, culminates in over 270 hours of in-flight training; ranging from tracking simulated targets to the final problem of tracking a live US Navy submarine.
During classroom training sessions, pilots and flight officers from all countries build plans and discuss tactics incorporating the capabilities and equipment of their respective nations,” a statement issued by the US Navy’s press office said. “Through training, exchange of opinions, and various type of exchanges, we expect to strengthen cooperation and deepen mutual understanding among the participating navies and air forces,” Cmdr. Michiyama Tomoyuki of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) said when the Exercise started. According to the US Navy, two P-8A Poseidon aircraft of the US Navy conducted maritime patrol and reconnaissance and theater outreach operations within the 7th Fleet area of operations.