U.S. and allied military forces recently conducted joint exercises in Hawaii that further advanced regional integrated air and missile defenses.

The twice-yearly exercises known as Pacific Dragon 2024 finished Sunday in Kauai, Hawaii, at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, the Navy and Missile Defense Agency said in statements.

Air and missile defense forces from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Italy, Netherlands and Denmark took part.

---

---

The exercises included both live-fire and simulated intercepts of ballistic missiles. Multinational tracking of target missiles and sharing of data also was practiced with “the goal of exercising, refining and improving their [integrated air and missile defense] capability in a coalition environment,” the Navy said.

In the live fire portion of the drills, the combined forces worked together to shoot down an SM-3 Block IA “high reward target” with an interceptor missile, the Navy and Missile Defense Agency said.

The exercise, hosted by the Navy’s 3rd Fleet, was also the first time U.S. and allied forces used a new and improved target missile called the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Target. The missile is a semi-guided target designed to trigger and engage terminal ship defenses like the SM-2 and SM-6 anti-missile interceptors.

“Through exercises and engagements like Pacific Dragon, we improve system interoperability and tactical procedures with our allies and partners,” said Vice Adm. John Wade, 3rd Fleet commander. “Combined operations and Integrated Air and Missile Defense tracking and live-fire events improve our proficiency and contribute to maritime security.”

Integrated air and missile defenses will be key weapons systems should a conflict break out with China in the Indo-Pacific region.

China operates the largest force of ballistic and cruise missiles in the region.

In a separate drill, Taiwan’s military this week fired surface-to-air missiles in live-fire missile defense exercises in response to increased military pressure from China.

The exercises in southern Taiwan included launches of the domestic Sky Bow III anti-ballistic missiles and the U.S.-made Patriot PAC II and surface-to-air Standard missiles.

Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang told reporters all the missiles hit their targets. 

“This shows our training is very strict and solid,” he said.