The “Golden Swordsmen” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 participated in the 2019 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition held in Langkawi, Malaysia.
Approximately 1,400 U.S. Navy and Air Force personnel are participating in LIMA19. U.S. Navy aircraft on display include a P-8A Poseidon, EA-18G Growler, and MH-60R Seahawk. The 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and destroyer, USS Preble (DDG 88), participated in the maritime portion of the exhibition.
“This detachment will be key in fostering relationships that will be critical in achieving national objectives in an ever-expanding dynamic maritime environment,” said Lt. Zach Alcairo, VP-47 Combat Aircrew (CAC) 9 Mission Commander.
LIMA is a biennial event held in Malaysia since 1991 that brings together industry stakeholders and government and military leaders from more than a dozen nations. LIMA19 was the 15th iteration and a four-day event dedicated to the maritime and aerospace sectors for defense, civil and commercial applications.
“We were able to demonstrate not only the robust mission set of the P-8A Poseidon but also show HHQ the professionalism and expert execution that VP-47 brings to every mission given to us," said Alcairo.
VP-47 represented the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance platform at LIMA19, demonstrating the versatility of the P-8A Poseidon to partner nations. The P-8A Poseidon is the Navy’s premiere long-range anti-submarine warfare platform.
“We are continuing to build partnerships with nations all around the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility,” said Lt. Shane Lewis, VP-47 CAC-9 Tactical Coordinator. “The relationships we build here have valuable geopolitical and strategic impacts for not only the U.S. but for the world.”
The "Golden Swordsmen" are currently deployed to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance and theater outreach operations within U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) area of operations in support of Commander, Task Force 72, C7F, and U.S. Pacific Command objectives throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region.