The U.S. Navy and Italian Navies and the Royal Australian Air Force carried out four days of drills in the South China Sea last week (Sept 2024) “in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” according to a US Navy statement, US Naval Institute News reports.
Meanwhile the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracked two Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, while Japan tracked two Russian Navy Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) operating in its ADIZ and carrying out a near circumvention of Japan’s main islands on Thursday.
Destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59), the Italian Navy Cavour Carrier Strike Group comprising of carrier ITS Cavour (550), frigate ITS Alpino (F594) and offshore patrol vessel ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli (P432) and a RAAF P-8A Poseidon MPA conducted fixed-wing air defense and combined anti-submarine warfare exercises along with exercising interoperable skills in command and control, tactics, and anti-surface warfare.
“These multilateral exercises are a concrete demonstration of the advances we are making alongside our allies and partners in the region,” said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, in the release, “They present dynamic opportunities to hone our skills in one of the most complex maritime regions in the world.”
The Cavour CSG is nearing the end of its Indo-Pacific deployment and is expected to transit into the Indian Ocean this month. The CSG made a port call to Manila, Philippines, from Sept. 3-8 and has been operating around the South China Sea after departing Manila. This is the third exercise the Cavour CSG has held with the U.S. Navy in the Indo-Pacific during its deployment, having earlier conducted a drill with the Abraham Lincoln CSG in the Philippine Sea on Aug. 9 and with destroyer USS Dewey (DDG-105) in the Philippine Sea from Aug. 18-21.
“This multilateral exercise has been another great opportunity to highlight the professionalism of our crews and the ability to join, train and be ready to operate together, projecting our forces for months, away from home,” said Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina, commander, Italian Carrier Strike Group in the release. “Another demonstration of the strong determination and commitment that exists among allies and partners everywhere in the world. Our cohesion and integration in the planning and preparation of the serial activities allowed us to work as a tight and strong team, synergizing our efforts and enhancing the value of multinational cooperation and proving the existing and effective interoperability among our forces.”
Russell left its homeport in San Diego on Feb. 10, with the current deployment being its first in three years. Since its last deployment, the destroyer underwent an 18-month maintenance availability and subsequent deployment training for close to a year before it departed in February, according to a Navy release. Russell subsequently was assigned to the Theodore Roosevelt CSG in the Indo-Pacific and in JUly followed it to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Thursday’s release states that Russell is now assigned to 7th Fleet’s Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 based in Japan.
NORAD issued a release stating that on Wednesday, the command detected and tracked two Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska ADIZ. “The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.” NORAD did not issue any details as to the type of aircraft nor images on them nor whether any interception was carried out.
Japan’s Joint Staff Office (JSO) on Thursday issued a release stating that from the morning to the afternoon of that day, two Russian TU-142 MPA flew over the waters off the coast of Oki Island in the Sea of Japan and then flew over the Tsushima Strait to enter the East China Sea. The Russian aircraft then flew over the waters between Miyako Island and Okinawa and subsequently flew northward over the Pacific Ocean and then turned west to fly off the north coast of the main island of Hokkaido before heading back to the Russian continent. In response, fighter aircraft from the Central Air District and fighter aircraft from other commands of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) were scrambled, according to the release.
In other developments, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 24.3 has detailed the scope of its activities during U.S-Indonesia multinational exercise Super Garuda Shield, which was held from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6 in Indonesia. A Wednesday release stated that Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3, provided aviation lift, assault support, and casualty evacuation capabilities, while 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3, led command and control operations. The release also stated that Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, also participated in the exercise.
VMM-268 (Reinforced) deployed four MV-22B Ospreys more than 1,200 miles from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, to Juanda International Airport in East Java, Indonesia, according to the release. In addition, the squadron established a forward arming and refueling point at an expeditionary advanced base in Surabaya, Indonesia, ensuring continuous support for the exercise aviation elements. U.S. Navy medical personnel with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), and Marines with VMM-268 (Reinforced), provided casualty evacuation support throughout the exercise.
The release added that the culminating event of Super Garuda Shield featured a combined amphibious and air assault in which Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st MARDIV, executed an integrated insertion alongside the Indonesian National Armed Forces, with air support provided by the MV-22B Ospreys assigned to VMM-268 (Reinforced).
“The exercise demonstrated the versatility and operational capability of Marine forces, emphasizing MRF-D 24.3’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” read the release.
