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Two Poseidons have deployed to Anderson Air Force Base as part of Exercise Sea Dragon, conducting anti-submarine warfare missions alongside the US, Indian, Korean, and Japanese militaries.
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The Australian government has confirmed that 51 members of the Royal Australian Air Force will participate in Exercise Sea Dragon 2024, which will see partner nations conduct flying missions to track, identify, and target submarines.
Alongside the two RAAF Poseidons are the US Navy P-8A Poseidon, Indian Navy P-8I Neptune, Republic of Korea Navy P-3CK Orion, and Japan Self-Defense Force Kawasaki P-1 aircraft.
The exercise will run for two weeks, between 8 to 24 January.
The Australian government hopes the exercise will enhance interoperability among the participants.
Exercise Sea Dragon Detachment Commander, Squadron Leader Jacqueline Killian explained that the exercise will be critical to ensuring that the nations were capable of sharing tactics with one another and deepen their ability to collaborate.
“Exercise Sea Dragon provides a unique opportunity for crews from RAAF No. 11 Squadron to gain tactical experience conducting anti-submarine warfare missions with our Indo-Pacific partners,” SQNLDR Killian said.
“Across the two weeks of the exercise, our aviators will overcome a range of challenges, working to safely and effectively operate together.
“The training accomplished on Exercise Sea Dragon will ensure we are prepared to integrate within a maritime environment and provide effective deterrence for Australia’s maritime security.”
Australia currently operates a fleet of 12 P-8A aircraft, with an additional two aircraft on order, which are operated by No. 11 and No. 292 Squadrons at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
Based on the commercial design of Boeing’s 737-800, the P-8A is built specifically as a military aircraft and has been substantially modified to include an internal fuel capacity of almost 34 tonnes, allowing the P-8A to conduct low-level anti-submarine warfare operations more than 2,000 kilometres from base.
The P-8A has been substantially modified to include a weapons bay, under wing and under fuselage hard points for weapons, and increased strengthening for low-level (down to 200 feet) operations and high-angle turns.
The news comes as Australian Defence Force’s first KC-30A multi-role transport tanker (MRTT) has returned after completing significant communications and cyber upgrades in Spain.
The KC-30A MRTT, based on a heavily modified Airbus A330 airliner, undertakes air-to-air refuelling and strategic airlift duties for the Royal Australian Air Force, operated by No. 33 Squadron from RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.
The new upgrades, undertaken via a two-year Heavy Air Lift Systems Program Office (HALSPO) process, include secure high-frequency and very high-frequency radios, encryption device, and tactical data link enhancements under the Crypto Remediation Project.
