The Australian Navy’s guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney showcased its air power and precision intercept capabilities during Pacific Dragon 2022, an exercise that highlighted the service’s ongoing modernization efforts. The exercise demonstrated how modern surface combatants can integrate advanced air defense tools with autonomous systems to defend maritime task groups against multiple aerial threats. A key element of the exercise was the interception of a target drone by the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile system, a result that underscored the effectiveness of shipboard air defense when paired with a capable command and control network. In the engagement, the Aegis Combat System played a crucial role in tracking, cueing, and guiding interceptors toward the hostile or malfunctioning drone, illustrating how radar, data fusion, and weapon control work together in real time to protect fleet elements.
Pacific Dragon 2022 brought together a diverse set of participants from multiple nations. Surface ships from the Royal Canadian Navy, the Republic of Korea Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the United States Missile Defense Agency, and the United States Navy joined the exercise. The drills took place at Barking Sands on the island of Hawaii, running from August 5 to August 15. The multinational cooperation demonstrated the shared emphasis on interoperability, information sharing, and operational readiness in the face of evolving aerial and ballistic threats. The exercise also served as a platform for partners to test integrated air and missile defense concepts, fleet maneuvering under realistic threat scenarios, and coordinated response protocols across different naval architectures and command structures.
In related defense planning, Australia has signaled a continued push toward autonomous combat systems designed to operate alongside conventional forces. Plans announced earlier stated an investment exceeding $310 million to accelerate the development of jet-capable unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence. These efforts are part of the Loyal Wingman program, which envisions unmanned platforms such as the MQ-28A Ghost Bat operating in concert with manned aircraft to extend sensing range, suppress enemy air defenses, and deliver precision effects when and where needed. Over the coming two years, this investment is expected to enable the production of seven MQ-28A Ghost Bats for the Royal Australian Air Force, expanding the aurora of unmanned combat capability across Australia’s air and space domains.
These plans build on a history of collaboration with industry partners. Australia previously invested more than $100 million in UAV development through an agreement with the Australian arm of a major global aerospace company. The prior work laid groundwork for integrating autonomous platforms into air power concepts, testing AI-enabled decision loops, and ensuring secure data links between unmanned and manned systems. Overall, the fusion of shipborne air defense, multinational exercise participation, and a renewed focus on intelligent UAVs illustrates Australia and allied nations’ strategic emphasis on resilient, scalable, and technologically advanced defense capabilities for the Pacific region.