Naval Forces from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power, Republic of Korea Navy, U.S Missile Protection Company, and U.S Navy efficiently carried out Pacific Dragon 2022 (PD22), a recurring biennial multinational air and missile protection train, from August 5-15, 2022, in Hawaii at Pacific Missile Vary Facility Barking Sands (PMRF) and off the coast of Kauai. PD22 was the primary iteration of train Pacific Dragon that included a dwell hearth intercept of a brief vary ballistic missile utilizing a Commonplace Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IA.

U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) launches a Commonplace Missile 3 Block IA as a part of Pacific Dragon 22. (Picture by Commander, U.S. third Fleet/U.S. Navy)

Naval property that participated in PD22 included HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), HMAS Provide (A 195), HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), JS Haguro (DDG 180), ROKS Sejong the Nice (DDG 991), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), and Pacific Missile Vary Facility Barking Sands, Kauai. Pacific Dragon is a biennial train designed to enhance tactical and technical coordination and interoperability regarding regional air and missile protection functionality.

Commercial

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) sails in formation during Pacific Dragon 2022, Aug. 12.
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) sails in formation throughout Pacific Dragon 2022, Aug. 12.

The RIM-161 Commonplace Missile 3 (SM-3) is a ship-based surface-to-air missile system utilized by america Navy to intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles as part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Protection System.Though primarily designed as an anti-ballistic missile, the SM-3 has additionally been employed in an anti-satellite capability towards a satellite tv for pc on the decrease finish of low Earth orbit. The SM-3 block IA model supplies an incremental improve to enhance reliability and maintainability at a lowered price.

 USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) departs Pearl Harbor to participate in Pacific Dragon 2022.
USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) departs Pearl Harbor to take part in Pacific Dragon 2022. (U.S. Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Corridor)

An integral a part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. third Fleet operates naval forces within the Indo-Pacific and supplies the sensible, related coaching essential to execute our Navy’s function, in help of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the joint pressure, throughout the total spectrum of navy operations–from fight operations to humanitarian help and catastrophe reduction. U.S. third Fleet works along with our Allies and companions to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of legislation, and different ideas that underpin safety and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

US Navy and Allied Navies Concludes Exercise Pacific Dragon 2022 (PD22)
Multinational naval ships sail in formation throughout Pacific Dragon 2022, Aug. 12. (U.S. Navy photograph by Electronics Technician 2nd Class Leland T. Hasty II)