Sea Dragon 2022 Exercise: India joins ‘Sea Dragon’ exercise:
A multinational exercise in the Western Pacific:
India and its partners in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad along with Canada and South Korea are participating in the multinational exercise Sea Dragon 2022 at Guam in the Western Pacific. It is 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.
Participating countries in this exercise:
The six nations that are participating in the exercise are the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and South Korea.
Know more about the ‘Sea Dragon’ exercise:
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. 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.
What is Dragon Belt Award?
During the exercise, the different events are to be held among the military forces of the participating countries. And the country scoring the highest points will be awarded the Dragon Belt Award. In 2021, the Dragon Belt Award was won by Royal Canadian Air Force.
The primary aim of this exercise:
Sea Dragon 22 focuses on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training and excellence, which includes everything from tracking simulated targets to tracking a genuine US Navy submarine. Pilots and flight officers from all around the world develop strategies and discuss tactics in training sessions that take into account their individual countries’ skills and equipment.
Lt. Cmdr. Braz Kennedy's Statement about this exercise:
Lt. Cmdr. Braz Kennedy, officer-in-charge of the US detachment from VP-47 of the US Navy said that he was eager to develop “partnerships with Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and Korea while at Sea Dragon” and added that the “continued growth and increasing complexity of this exercise allow practicing ASW tactics, techniques, and procedures with allies and partners that we don’t often get a chance to work with.”
Why is Indo – Pacific Region in the center stage?
The main reason is the sea routes and oil trade. Before the cold war, the center stage was taken by the Atlantic Ocean. India sees the Indo – Pacific as an open, inclusive, and balanced space. The US sees Indo – Pacific as free and open. The ASEAN sees Indo Pacific as a consociational model. Consociationalism is a stable democracy, especially in deeply divided states.