Defence Minister Marise Payne said, "RIMPAC is the world's largest maritime exercise and is a great opportunity for us to strengthen international partnerships, enhance interoperability and improve our readiness for a wide range of potential operations."

RIMPAC 2018 will see 47 surface warships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, more than 200 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel participating in the US-led exercise in and around the Hawaiian islands and southern California from 27 June to 2 August. 

"From amphibious warfighting exercises with our flagship HMAS Adelaide to the first ever Harpoon missile fired from an Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft, RIMPAC is a real test of Australia's maritime military capability," said Chief of Joint Operations, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld. 

The RIMPAC exercises also include specialised gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air-defence exercises, as well as maritime interdiction and vessel boarding, explosive ordnance disposal, diving and salvage operations, mine clearance and an amphibious landing operation.  

"This year's theme is 'Capable, Adaptive Partners' and the ADF personnel will exercise across a range of scenarios from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to maritime security operations and complex war fighting," said Minister Payne.

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.