Highlights:
- The exercise will see the participation of six Indo-Pacific nations.
- The exercise is being led by the United States.
- The Royal Canadian Air Force won the Dragon Belt Award in 2021.
The international Sea Dragon 22 exercise is underway. India, Australia, Canada, the United States, South Korea, and Japan are among the countries taking part in the exercise. It takes place on Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base. It’s Air Force base for the United States.
About the Sea Dragon 22
The exercise is being led by the United States. The training will be centered on anti-submarine warfare. The countries will examine typical maritime security problems in the Indo-Pacific region during the exercise. 270 hours of in-flight trainings are included in the exercise.
Award for the Dragon Belt
Various events will be held among the military forces of the participating countries during the exercise. The Dragon Belt Award will be given to the country with the most points. The Royal Canadian Air Force won the Dragon Belt Award in 2021.
Why is the Indo-Pacific region in the spotlight?
The main cause is the oil trade and marine routes. Before the Cold War, the Atlantic Ocean took centre stage. India sees the Indo-Pacific as a space that is open, inclusive, and well-balanced. The United States views the Indo-Pacific region as free and open. The Indo-Pacific is seen as a consociational model by ASEAN. Consociationalism is a stable kind of democracy, especially in nations that are strongly split.
Views of lieutenant commander Braz Kennedy
“As [officer-in-charge] OIC, I am eager for the opportunity to further deepen our partnerships with Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and Korea while at Sea Dragon 2022,” said US detachment OIC Patrol Squadrons (VP) 47 lieutenant commander Braz Kennedy.
“This exercise’s continual expansion and complexity provides an opportunity to practice ASW tactics, techniques, and procedures with allies and partners with whom we don’t regularly work.”
Aims and Objective of the Exercise
The exercise, which primarily focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training, aims to improve interoperability and response to regional contingencies among the participating forces. The program’s objectives include tracking simulated targets, locating a US Navy submarine, and creating strategies and tactics involving both countries’ capabilities and equipment.
