Sea Dragon 2025 Naval Exercise Commences in the Western Pacific
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Sea Dragon 2025 Naval Exercise |
| Dates | March 4 to March 19, 2025 |
| Location | Guam coast, western Pacific Ocean |
| Host | United States Navy's 7th Fleet |
| Participants | - Indian Navy- Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF)- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)- Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) |
| Focus | Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) |
| Objectives | - Enhance tactical coordination- Strengthen ASW capabilities- Improve maritime security in the Indo-Pacific- Simulated hunting of a U.S. Navy submarine- Promote military cooperation among allied forces |
| Indian Navy's Role | Deployed P-8I Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft |
| Grading System | - Performance assessed based on submarine detection and tracking efficiency- Dragon Belt Award for the top-performing nation- JMSDF has won the award since 2022 |
| Historical Evolution | - 2019: Started as a U.S.-Australia bilateral exercise- 2020: Expanded to include Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand- 2021, 2022, 2023: India, Australia, Japan, U.S., Canada, and South Korea participated- 2024: Canada not invited, became a Quad + South Korea exercise- 2025: U.S., India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea participate |
| Significance for India | - Strengthens ASW capabilities- Enhances defense relations with Quad nations and South Korea- Improves preparedness for maritime security in the Indo-Pacific |