With the participation of naval forces from 29 nations, yesterday the representative of the United States Navy (US Navy) began the largest multinational naval exercise in the world, known as RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific). The exercise will take place in Hawaii over the next few weeks, with the participation of forty ships, three submarines, land forces from fourteen countries, 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 military personnel; its completion is expected at the beginning of August.
“The purpose of the exercise is to build relationships, enhance interoperability and proficiency, and ultimately contribute to peace and stability in the vitally important Indo-Pacific region.” stated Vice Admiral John Wade, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet and Combined Force Commander (CTF) RIMPAC 2024.
In that regard, RIMPAC will conduct its largest humanitarian aid and disaster relief exercise with eight countries, five ships, five landing craft, five aircraft, multiple ground forces, and more than 2,500 total participants. It will also practice maritime security, sea control, and complex combat operations.
Amphibious operations, artillery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises will be carried out, as well as military medicine, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, anti-piracy, demining operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and rescue operations.
As for the media that will participate, the presence of F-35 Lightning II fighters, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and the V-22 Osprey have been mentioned, which will operate from the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. The confirmed submarines will be the USS North Carolina (SSN-777) and the USS Topeka (SSN-754) of the United States Navy, and the ROKS Lee Beom-seok (SS-081) of the South Korean Navy.
It should be noted that in this 29th edition, for the first time, a commander from the Chilean Navy will serve as Deputy Commander of the CTF, while a rear admiral from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will be the vice commander.
Countries participating in RIMPAC 2024 include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom.
It may interest you: The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington was escorted by ships of the Ecuadorian Navy
