Indian Navy Joins Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 in Guam for Anti-Submarine Warfare Drills

The Indian Navy is joining the 2026 edition of Exercise Sea Dragon with  US, India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea to counter rising undersea threats in the Indo-Pacific and sharpen its edge in  Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).

Exercise Sea Dragon: 

Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 is a US-led multinational maritime exercise designed to foster high-level integration between friendly navies in the Indo-Pacific.

The Exercise is hosted annually at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in Western Pacific. The exercise primarily focuses on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), where long-range maritime patrol aircraft hunt simulated enemy submarines in deep-water environments.

The key aim is to enhance anti-submarine warfare proficiency among participating countries, to improve interoperability and coordination between maritime patrol aircraft and strengthen cooperation  to ensure a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific maritime security. 

Participatory Countries of Sea Dragon 2026: 

1.  India (Represented by the P-8I "Neptune")

2. United States (US Navy P-8A Poseidon)

3.  Japan (MSDF P-1)

4. Australia (RAAF P-8A) 

5. South Korea

Key Highlights of Exercise Sea Dragon 2026

• Sub-Hunting Drills: it is a crew engaged excercise  in grueling tracking and detection missions against both simulated targets and live submarines, pushing their underwater surveillance tech to the absolute limit.

• The Titan Aircrafts: The exercise features the world’s most sophisticated maritime patrol assets, including the Boeing P-8 Poseidon (used by the US, India, and Australia navies) and the Japanese Kawasaki P-1. These aircraft act as flying command centers, packed with advanced sensors and real-time data links.

• Coordinated Tactical War-Gaming: Before wheels leave the tarmac, aircrews engage in intense tabletop planning to ensure coordination between the pilot and a sensor operator who can speak the same language during a mission.

• The Battle for the Dragon Belt : The highest-scoring unit walks away with the prestigious Dragon Belt, a symbol of ASW excellence to evaluate on their speed, tracking accuracy, and seamless coordination. 

• High-Intensity Flight: With over 200+ hours cumulative flight logged during the exercise, crews undergo a level of muscle memory training. 

The Indian Navy will participate in Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 in Guam, alongside the US, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. This multinational exercise aims to enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities and interoperability among friendly navies. Focusing on sub-hunting drills with advanced maritime patrol aircraft, the exercise strengthens cooperation to ensure a free and secure Indo-Pacific maritime region.

Also Read: Exercise LAMITIYE-2026