Australia joins largest international maritime exercise in Hawaii

More than 400 Australian personnel will be active participants in the exercise, focusing on live-fire exercises, air defence, mine and explosive clearance disposal, anti-submarine warfare and salvage operations.

“Our continued support to Exercise RIMPAC reflects our longstanding commitment to strategic transparency and the value we place on working with allies and partners,” Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, said.

“It’s an unparalleled opportunity to integrate with allied and partner maritime forces, conduct professional exchanges and build person-to-person relationships.

“The scale of Exercise RIMPAC 26 provides an unsurpassed training environment, enhancing how we fight as an organisation and providing experience to individual personnel.

“For 45 years, Exercise RIMPAC has allowed Australia to demonstrate and build on successive generations of maritime capability and roles.”

Specifically, Australia will be utilising a Royal Australian Navy Hobart Class guided missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney, as well as a defence vessel, Guidance.

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A P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail Royal Australian Air Force aircraft will also be used in the interoperable activity.

RIMPAC has been a consistent global activity for nearly 50 years, with this year’s rendition being especially important for Australia to work with AUKUS partner nations as they support training on subsea and seabed warfare skills.

“The ADF can demonstrate that we have the capability, capacity and resolve to defend against any potential adversary’s attempt to project power against Australia,” VADM Jones said.

“Exercise RIMPAC 26 directly contributes to Australia’s ability to protect its maritime approaches and respond to domestic and international threats.”