The Royal Australian Air Force sent two P-8A Poseidon aircraft and 51 airmen to the Sea Dragon 2024 exercise that the U.S. Navy is hosting at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, from Jan. 8 to 24.
The exercise, which also includes representatives from the United States, India, South Korea and Japan, is focused on anti-submarine warfare missions, according to an Australian Department of Defence press release. The other aircraft participating at Sea Dragon are the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon, the Indian Navy’s P-8I Neptune, the Republic of Korea Navy’s P-3CK Orion and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Kawasaki P-1.
During the exercise, the participants will demonstrate their capability for joint flying missions to identify, pinpoint and target hostile submarines.
The exercise offers an environment to further develop interoperability and sharing tactics among the participants, according to Squadron Leader Jacqueline Killian, the RAAF’s Exercise Sea Dragon detachment commander. The training will ensure the RAAF’s readiness “to integrate within a maritime environment and provide effective deterrence for Australia’s maritime security,” she added.
