From 29 July to 15 August, the offshore multipurpose patrol vessel ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli took part in Pacific Dragon 24, a biennial exercise organised by the U.S. Navy designed to test and improve participating forces' operational capabilities in the complex area of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD).

Since its first edition in 2012, this exercise has become a major event for all partner Navies seeking to enhance or establish a robust national and international missile defense architecture.
Designed by the U.S. Navy in collaboration with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, the 7th iteration of the exercise has seen for the first time the participation of the Italian Navy, represented by ITS Montecuccoli, and has also involved two units from the Dutch and Australian Navies.

The Pacific Dragon – which is known for the specificity and difficulty of its training matters – was held in the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, a centre of excellence designed and develop to enable the precise execution of exercises and tests, relying on specialised personnel and advanced equipment for the monitoring, tracking and telemetry of missiles and air targets.

During the two-week exercise, participating units have been involved in a series of events organised to recreate realistic scenarios with the aim to test a naval force's capabilities in countering air and missile threats, including detection and interception of ballistic and cruise missiles, crisis management capacity, and cooperation within integrated operations.

Participating for the first time ever in the Pacific Dragon, ITS Montecuccoli had the opportunity to test – facing a simulated ballistic missile threat - the new Dual Band Radar, produced by the national technology industry to equip the Italian Navy with state-of-the-art systems capable of adapting to evolving operational scenarios.

ITS Montecuccoli participation in this exercise represents a major step forward for the Italian Navy in acquiring new Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities and expertise. It also offered a unique opportunity to cooperate with naval forces from the United States, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Australia, demonstrating a high level of multinational integration and a shared commitment to addressing evolving and increasingly complex threats.

At the end of the Pacific Dragon 24, ITS Montecuccoli will continue her Operational Projection  Campaign, joining the Italian Carrier Strike Group in Western Pacific.