U.S., allies, partners executed Pacific Dragon 2026 exercise
Pacific Dragon (PD26) is a U.S. Navy, U.S. 3rd Fleet-executed, biennial, multilateral ballistic missile defense (BMD) and tactical data link (TDL) information-sharing exercise conducted with allied and partner forces and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in waters around the Hawaiian Islands, Aug. 6-13, 2026.
“Pacific Dragon 2026 demonstrates the strength of our alliance and partnerships and our shared commitment to advancing integrated air and missile defense capabilities across the region,” said Vice Adm. Marc Miguez, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. “Through this exercise our forces are strengthening interoperability, improving information sharing, and refining the tactics and procedures necessary to operate together in support of regional security and a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
PD26 improved interoperability among allied and partner maritime forces through shared tactical data links and coordinated BMD operations, refining the tactics and procedures required for regional integrated air and missile defense (IAMD).
PD26 featured participation from the Maritime Theatre Missile Defense Forum and included forces from Australia, Chile, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and the United States. The exercise consisted of in-port and underway phases, with in-port events focused on interoperability training, Pacific Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center training, and preparation for underway operations.
This year’s exercise expanded multinational participation with the addition of Chile and Spain, introducing new operational elements, including a multi-mission event integrating BMD and IAMD scenarios.
Participating assets included Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG 42) and E-7A Wedgetail, an Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF); Chilean Navy Duke-class frigate Almirante Cochrane (FF-05); Italian Navy Paolo Thaon di Revel-class ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P434); Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kongō-class JS Kongo (DDG 173); Republic of Korea Navy Sejong the Great class ROKS Jeongjo the Great (DDG 995); Spanish Navy Álvaro de Bazan-class SPS Álvaro de Bazán (F101); and U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). U.S. air assets include Boeing P-8A Poseidon, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, and Kratos BQM 177A Sub-Sonic Aerial Target (SSAT) aircraft.
USS Jack H. Lucas, the U.S. Navy’s first flight III of its class, is equipped with Baseline 10 and the AN/SPY-6 radar system, representing the U.S. Navy’s continued advancement of integrated air and missile defense capabilities.
As a key part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the region. It conducts realistic training to prepare sailors for a wide range of missions, from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. With allies and partners, U.S. 3rd Fleet maintains the access, presence, and combat readiness that preserve security in the region.
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