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, primarily focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training, will involve more than 270 hours of in-flight training and activities ranging from tracking simulated targets to tracking a US Navy submarine. Each event will be graded and the country scoring the highest points will receive the Dragon Belt award.

The wargame, being held at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, includes contingents from the Indian Navy, the US Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean Navy.

Two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of the US Navy are participating in the drill. During classroom training sessions, pilots and flight officers from all the countries will build plans and discuss tactics incorporating the capabilities and equipment of their nations, the US Pacific Fleet said in a statement.

“As [officer-in-charge], I am eager for the opportunity to further develop our partnerships with Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and Korea while at Sea Dragon 2022,” said Lt Cmdr Braz Kennedy, officer-in-charge of the US detachment from Patrol Squadron 47.

The Royal Canadian Air Force won the Dragon Belt at last year’s exercise and is defending the title at Sea Dragon 2022.

“This exercise is an annual, multi-national high-end ASW training exercise,” said Cmdr Tomoyuki Michiyama, commanding officer of Flight Division 31 of Air Patrol Squadron 3 of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force.

“I believe that by conducting a wide range of training, from classroom training on the ground to actual training targeting a submarine, we will be able to improve our tactical skills. In addition, through training, exchange of opinions, and various types of exchanges, we expect to strengthen cooperation and deepen mutual understanding among the participating navies and air forces.”

The P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will conduct maritime patrols and reconnaissance and theatre outreach operations within the US Pacific Fleet area of operations.

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The guns will be installed on large-size naval ships, including the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers of India.

The request comes at a time when India and China are engaged in a border conflict. It is expected that such a capability will better position the country to respond to a potential dispute.

The LoR is for procuring 11 127mm medium calibre guns, which are in use with the US Navy.

The deal is valued at about Rs3.8bn ($519m) and the guns are manufactured by BAE Systems.

The new plan suggests that the first three guns will be provided to the Indian Navy on an urgent requirement basis. It is expected to be supplied from the US Navy’s own inventory.

The Indian Navy is currently working in close cooperation with the US counterpart. Most of the new capability acquisitions being made by India are from the US.

In July last year, the Indian Navy expanded its deployment of frontline ships and submarines in the Indian Ocean Region.

In November, the Indian Navy inducted two Predator drones into its operations, under a lease agreement with a US vendor.

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