An Indian Navy P-8I aircraft on Tuesday arrived in Guam, United States to participate in the fourth edition of the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise, Ex Sea Dragon 24, organised by the US Navy. The US-led exercise focuses on fostering cooperation and interoperability among the navies of the US, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and India.
The main objective of Ex Sea Dragon 24 is to improve coordination and interoperability among participating navies through professional interactions both on the ground and in the air, according to a statement from the Indian Navy. The exercise will test the capabilities of various aircraft in tracking both simulated and live underwater targets while sharing expertise among participating nations. Apart from the Indian Navy's P8I, other aircraft in attendance include the US Navy's P8A, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force's P1, Royal Canadian Air Force's CP-140, and Republic of Korea's P3C.
Earlier in March, the Indian Navy participated in the La Perouse multilateral cooperation exercise hosted by France. This exercise brought together seven nations, including India, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the US, and the UK, in the Bay of Bengal. The event aimed to strengthen maritime security and interoperability among partner navies. The Indian Navy contributed its indigenous guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri and fleet tanker INS Jyoti to the La Perouse exercise.
During the two-day La Perouse exercise, participating navies engaged in a range of complex naval operations, including replenishment at sea, surface warfare drills, anti-air and air-defence exercises, cross-deck helicopter operations, and tactical manoeuvres. The Indian Navy highlighted the significance of these exercises in facilitating seamless maritime operations among the participating nations.
In September of the previous year, the Indian Navy announced its intention to acquire six additional P-8I anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance aircraft from the United States, as reported by the news agency ANI. The P-8I aircraft has played a crucial role in conducting surveillance operations in various areas of India's interest, including high-altitude regions in the Ladakh sector. Notably, the P-8I provided critical surveillance during the Doklam crisis, revealing Chinese build-up along the Sikkim-Bhutan sector.