Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft landed at Guam, a US island territory in Western Pacific, to participate in Exercise Sea Dragon – 24.
About Exercise Sea Dragon-24:
- It is an elite multinational maritime exercise that encourages professional exchanges and teamwork among participating navies.
- Participating countries: India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the US.
- The exercise seeks to improve skills in a variety of maritime combat domains through a number of aerial and ground-based tasks, including:
- Anti-submarine warfare (ASW): Locating and neutralising enemy submarines hiding beneath the seas.
- Surface warfare: Coordinated attacks on hostile surface vessels using superior weaponry and tactics.
- Air defence: Putting up an impenetrable air barrier to keep friendly forces safe from aerial threats.
- Search and rescue (SAR): Tracking down and saving maritime personnel in need.
- Communication and coordination: Synchronising activities across several platforms and exchanging information in a seamless manner.
Key facts about the P8I aircraft
- It is a versatile aircraft with potent force multiplier in maritime operations. Some of its primary capabilities are:
- Long-range surveillance: The P8I can scan wide sections of ocean, identifying hostile movements and activities from long distances.
- Multi-sensor fusion: Its electronic intelligence systems, sonars, and onboard radars provide a thorough image of the maritime environment.
- Anti-submarine warfare: With its depth charges and torpedoes, the P8I poses a serious threat to enemy submarines.
- Communication relay: The aircraft can serve as an essential means of communication between various participating fleets’ forces.