The United States, India, and allied nations conducted a 20-day anti-submarine warfare exercise in Guam, enhancing operational coordination among Indo-Pacific partners.
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States and India, along with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, recently concluded a 20-day anti-submarine warfare exercise in Guam, aimed at bolstering coordination among Indo-Pacific partners.
Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 wrapped up at Andersen Air Force Base on March 28, following an intensive training program focused on tracking and neutralizing undersea threats in a complex operational environment, according to a media release.
Hosted by Commander, Task Force 72, the exercise featured the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft, alongside aircraft from the Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Officials noted that the drills were designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen shared maritime domain awareness among the five participating nations. This year’s exercise built on previous editions, improving the ability to conduct coordinated anti-submarine warfare operations in a dynamic and contested environment.
The training program included structured tracking drills utilizing a mobile anti-submarine warfare training target known as the MK-30. Participants also engaged in a live anti-submarine warfare exercise, where crews hunted for an active Navy submarine operating in the vicinity.
This year’s operations took place near Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, where forces employed recoverable exercise torpedoes, showcasing an expansion of operational capabilities among the participating nations.
The exercise retained a competitive element, with each nation’s performance assessed and graded in realistic scenarios. Japan’s Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 3 was awarded the Dragon Belt, a title previously held by the Royal Australian Air Force.
Exercises like Sea Dragon underscore the strength of US partnerships and alliances, with officials emphasizing the importance of such drills in maintaining regional stability.
“They show that together we’re stronger, more capable, and ready to deter any aggressor in the Indo-Pacific,” said Navy Lt. Caitlin Tucker, a pilot with Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 45.
Since its inception in 2019, Sea Dragon has become a key platform for enhancing coordination among maritime forces operating in the Indo-Pacific. The participation of India alongside US allies reflects a steady deepening of defense cooperation in the region, according to IANS.