Second US, UK, Japan drill in Western Pacific starting this week

Assets from the navies of Japan, the UK and US are scheduled top take part in their second trilateral exercise later this week.

The inaugural Asia Pacific exercise took place in December 2018.

The drill will take place in the Western Pacific and is scheduled for kick off on March 14.

Japan will be represented by Murasame-class destroyer JS Murasame (DD-101), a P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, and a submarine. The UK’s Royal Navy will be represented by Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose which arrived in Japan last week.

The US Navy is sending a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft from the “War Eagles” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 to join the drills.

“The Royal Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, and United States Navy all support a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Brian Erickson, commander, Task Force Seven Two (CTF 72). “Exercises like this demonstrate our nation’s resolve in the region, while improving interoperability, maintaining readiness, and learning best practices from one another.”