As part of their sustained presence in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force carried out new combined naval maneuvers in the South China Sea, involving the Seventh Fleet’s flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), and the Japanese destroyer JS Asahi (DD-119), in a series of operations conducted in mid-April 2026.
The activities were part of a broader deployment led by the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, which between April 13 and 17 conducted bilateral and multilateral exercises across different areas of the Western Pacific. In particular, USS Blue Ridge, an amphibious command ship of its class equipped with advanced communications and control systems, initially operated in the South China Sea alongside units from Australia, the Philippines, and the United States.
During this first phase, participating assets included the Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156), the U.S. amphibious ship USS Ashland (LSD-48), and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from squadron VP-97. According to available details, the units carried out joint tactical maneuvers during a coordinated transit, testing interoperability in a complex maritime environment.
Following this multilateral phase, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) conducted bilateral operations with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force between April 15 and 17, sailing alongside JS Asahi in areas of the Sulu Sea and the Philippine Sea. During these activities, navigation exercises, tactical coordination, and personnel transfers via helicopter were conducted.
In particular, the Japanese destroyer JS Asahi (DD-119), belonging to its class, is specialized in anti-submarine warfare and equipped with advanced systems such as low-frequency sonar and an AEGIS combat system adapted to its operational requirements, making it a key asset within Japan’s naval forces for operations in high-threat environments.
Beyond the operational details, the importance of these exercises should not be overlooked, considering that they take place in a context of increasing naval activity in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea—one of the most sensitive geopolitical areas due to territorial disputes and the constant presence of naval forces from various powers.
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