The Indian Navy is participating in Exercise Sea Dragon 2026, a US-led multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in the Indo-Pacific through March.Though the exercise is an annual event, the fact that it is happening against the backdrop of a widening conflict in West Asia makes it significant.The two-week exercise involves P-8A Poseidon and P-8I aircraft conducting complex training scenarios designed to track and respond to both simulated and live submarine targets.The Indian Navy has sent one Boeing P8I maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft for Sea Dragon 2026. Besides the Indian Navy, the US-led exercise will see participation from Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force. The exercise aims to strengthen cooperation among allied maritime forces while enhancing anti-submarine warfare capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.Lt Christian Castro, public affairs officer, Commander Task Force 72 of US Navy, said that the exercise seeks to advance aircrew proficiency in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) by progressing from tracking simulated targets to detecting and tracking a live submarine.According to an official statement from Australian Ministry of Defence, the Australian Navy has deployed a P-8A Poseidon aircraft along with 50 aviators for the exercise in Guam. Over the course of the exercise, aviators from the recently reformed 12 Squadron of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will participate in a range of complex training scenarios. These exercises are designed to test crews’ ability to detect, track and respond to both simulated and live submarine targets in a challenging operational environment.RAAF detachment commander Squadron Leader Bryce Martin described the exercise as critical to maintaining operational edge, noting that the training area’s scale enables crews to refine coordination across national boundaries, a capability that has taken on renewed importance as allied navies recalibrate their strategy in the Western Pacific.
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