US Navy P-8A joins Colombian, Peruvian submarines for ASW exercises

A US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 joined Peruvian and Colombian Navy submarines for a tri-lateral submarine exercise in the waters north of Colombia.

The five-day exercise concluded on November 6 and provided opportunities to further the interoperability and coordination in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) between the three navies.

This year’s exercise involved two Colombian vessels, frigate ARC Indepeniente and type 206 submarine ARC Indomable, one Peruvian type 209 submarine BAP Arica, and one US maritime patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon. The exercise stressed technical expertise for all participating forces in locating submerged targets, exercising the various aspects of ASW capabilities of US and partner nation navies.

Through two flights and 15 hours of total flight time, VP-16 expended 93 buoys and successfully located the target on their second flight.

“Overall, the exercise was a tremendous opportunity and was successfully executed,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sergio Ibarra, VP-16 tactics officer. “We learned a great deal about operating with our Colombian and Peruvian counterparts in directly supporting surface vessel search operations.”