VP-40 and VP-4 Launch Harpoons During Joint Missile Defense Exercise

摘要

The "Fighting Marlins" of Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40) and the "Skinny Dragons" of Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4), successfully conducted a coordinated missile launch, firing two Harpoon (AGM-84D) air to surface missiles against a target barge in Norway during Exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield (ASD/FS)on May 31, 2021 while deployed to the U.S. Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility. VP-40 and VP-4 worked as one unit to plan the coordination of flights, mission timeline, and launches. Plans for exercise safety and communications were developed in close cooperation with allies to enable the firing event. The successful result reaffirmed the global reach of the P-8A and its capability to conduct Surface Warfare engagements when directed to provide offensive or defensive support to a maritime task group.