ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - The “Red Lancers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 participated in a multi-national Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise off the southern coast of Guam, Nov 18-27.
The exercise is the second iteration of Pacific Vanguard, as the first iteration occurred in May. This quadrilateral exercise brings together Australian, Canadian, Republic of Korea, and U.S. Naval forces. The exercise is focused on improving interoperability between participating nations in order to respond as a coordinated naval force against crisis and contingencies in the region.
This maritime training exercise provides a unique opportunity to coordinate ASW tactics with allied forces in order to practice and refine maritime power projection.
The Red Lancers dispatched two P-8A Poseidon aircraft and coordinated with two P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the maritime air segment of Pacific Vanguard. Throughout the exercise, the multinational force was able to simulate escalating hostilities between opposing forces in the surface and subsurface environment.
“Conducting advanced scenarios with our critical allies has helped us become a stronger force, and I’m thrilled to play a small part in enhancing our force lethality,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Howard, VP-10 Detachment Officer in Charge.
The participating entities passed subsurface contact reports to the multinational force, enhancing situational awareness, while maintaining the ability to conduct subsurface attacks. This exercise afforded the crews the opportunity to promote operational excellence in the air and on the surface.
The Red Lancers, based in Jacksonville, Florida, are operating out of Misawa, Japan conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance and theater security cooperation operations across the Indo-Pacific in support of Commander, Task Force 72, Commander, 7th Fleet and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives throughout the region.