Naval Today said:
The US Navy used two Burke class DDGs one a Flight I and the other a Flight IIA. These are very similar to the Japanese Kongo and Atago class AEGIS DDGs.
They also used an Akizulki class DDG, which was designed as an escort for BMD shooting JApanese AEGIS DDGs.
The exerciese also included an LA Class SSN< and a JSMDF Oyashio class SSK.
All of this was conducted in the Philippine Sea.
IMHO, they are working on ensuring that they can find and prosecute SSNs and SSKs in those waters.
They also did other exercises including the maneuvering drills and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) exercises...but make no mistake, the ASW exercises and operations were the real focus of these exercises.
I will leave it to your imagination as to which SSKs and SSNs they were most concerned with in the Philippine Sea.
USS Decatur, DDG-73, Flight I Arleigh Burke AEGIS DDG
USS Spruance, DDG-111, Flight IIA Arleigh Burke AEGIS DDG
JMSDF Teruzuki DDG-116, Akizuki Class DDG
US Navy Los Angeles Class SSN
JMSDF Oyashio Class SSK
Those were probably some very intensive and serious exercises, and make pretty clear what the US and JMSDF policy is in the SCS should FON ever fail, or be militarily challenged.
