Royal New Zealand Air Force deploys P-8A Poseidon aircraft for submarine-hunting exercise

Working alongside a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon, Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Charlottetown, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Kaga and JS Fuyuzuki, and the US Navy’s George Washington Carrier Strike Group, the multinational taskforce successfully located and tracked multiple submarines.

“Exercise Valiant Shield 26 is a US-led biennial multinational exercise that strengthens integration and interoperability between the United States and allied forces across the air, sea, land, space and cyber space domains,” a statement from the New Zealand Defence Force said.

“Our Air Force’s participation builds coalition experience and strengthens partnerships with Australia and other partners.”

The major training activity pits allied military personnel against security challenges at sea, in the air, on land, from space and in cyber space. All exercise participants are required to detect, locate, track and engage shared threats.

The US first conducted Exercise Valiant Shield in 2006. Participation expanded to include Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand in 2024.

Earlier this month, on 12 June, RNZAF P-8A Poseidon crew were deployed to locate missing boats in Fijian and Kiribati waters.

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On discovering a missing vessel, the aircraft crew passed on its location and the Republic of Fiji Navy Ship Savenaca was able to rescue five people on board.

Acting Air Component Commander Group Captain Brett Clayton said the quick response to the diversion request and successful rescue was a credit to the aircraft crew, the RFNS Savenaca ship’s company and Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre.

“Thanks to the professionalism and readiness of the personnel involved in the air, on the sea and on land, the sailors on this vessel will make it home to their families.”

The P-8A Poseidon and crew resumed the search for the missing small Kiribati boat, with three on board, which they were able to locate.

In a separate deployment, a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon crew was able to locate a solo fisherman in his four-metre aluminium skiff, missing for a week in the northern Cook Islands on 19 June.

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.