NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy has deployed a P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft to Guam to participate in the US-led multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Sea Dragon.
The two-week drill involving maritime patrol aircraft from key Indo-Pacific partners including the QUAD members brings together two US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft, one P-8I from the Indian Navy, two P-8A aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, one P-8A from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and a P-1 maritime patrol aircraft from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The strong P-8 commonality among several participating forces allows closer operational coordination, as the aircraft share similar mission systems, sensors and data-link capabilities designed for long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.
“The exercise advances aircrew proficiency in anti-submarine warfare by progressing from track-simulated targets to detecting and tracking a live submarine. The crews participate in over 200 cumulative hours of in-flight training,” an official statement from the Australian Navy said.
It added that pilots and aircrew from participating countries also conduct classroom planning sessions to refine joint tactics.
The deployment comes as the Indian Navy continues to escort and monitor India-bound merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to the country.
The exercise also follows an incident earlier this month involving the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena, which had participated in the Indian Navy’s International Fleet Review and Exercise Milan in Visakhapatnam in February.
The frigate was struck by a torpedo fired by a US Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine in the Indian Ocean Region.
Following a distress call from the vessel, the Indian Navy diverted a P-8I aircraft and nearby naval ships to assist search-and-rescue operations in Sri Lanka’s Search and Rescue region, where the frigate had been operating.
Meanwhile, the Indo-Pacific security environment remains tense.
With Washington shifting some military assets towards West Asia amid the ongoing war with Iran, China has stepped up coast guard deployments and military activity around Taiwan. Taipei has reported multiple Chinese aircraft and naval vessels operating around the island over the past week.
At the same time, North Korea has continued missile and military demonstrations during ongoing US-South Korea exercises, further adding to the region’s security churn.