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12 clusters · 21 sources · 35 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: INTERNATIONAL · POLITICS

RIMPAC 2026 multinational naval exercise – SINKEX included

Entities: RIMPAC · Indonesian Navy Marine Corps (TNI AL) · Malaysia · Australia · United States

Overview

RIMPAC 2026 continued its wide‑range activities through late July. After Canada’s HMCS Ottawa fired a training torpedo on 7 July and U.S. medical units ran a mass‑casualty drill on 9 July, the exercise saw further milestones. India took over as Deputy Commander of the task force for theatre‑level anti‑submarine warfare on 13 July, reinforcing its ASW leadership. Indonesia’s Marine Corps added 105 mm howitzer firings in West Java and a non‑commissioned officer course in Hawaii, broadening the training mix.

In the second week of July, U.S. forces conducted two live‑fire sinking exercises: the decommissioned cruiser USS Mobile Bay was struck on 12 July and the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu on 17 July. Both vessels were sunk in waters about 15,000 ft deep, roughly 50 nm north of Kauai, using a variety of weapons from HIMARS rockets to Japanese Type‑12 anti‑ship missiles, AGM‑158C LRASMs and Rafael Spike NLOS missiles. The sinkings involved more than 30 000 personnel, 30 ships, five submarines and over 190 aircraft from the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Spain, providing realistic coalition targeting and execution training.

On 27 July, the Indonesian Navy Marine Corps took part in a village‑defence simulation on Griffon Island, Hawaii, alongside forces from the United States, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, South Korea and Mexico, practising civilian protection, casualty evacuation and counter‑attack. At the same time, Malaysia, the United States and Australia carried out Exercise Keris Strike 31/2026 in Sabah, a two‑week artillery program involving the Malaysian Royal Artillery, the Oklahoma National Guard and Australian ground units, focused on integrated live‑fire drills and rapid fire‑support coordination across the Indo‑Pacific region.

These operations complement earlier humanitarian‑assistance drills that included United Nations agencies, NGOs and academic partners, underscoring RIMPAC’s emphasis on interoperability, joint response capabilities and combined maritime proficiency.

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Indo‑Pacific defense drills strengthen cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia, US and allies

    Indonesian marines joined RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii, while Malaysia, the US and Australia ran Exercise Keris Strike 31/2026 in Sabah, both boosting Indo‑Pacific defense cooperation.

  2. 5 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    RIMPAC 2026 sees sinking of USS Mobile Bay and USS Peleliu

    RIMPAC 2026 sank the decommissioned USS Mobile Bay and USS Peleliu in a multinational live‑fire exercise off Hawaii, involving 30 nations and thousands of personnel.

  3. 9 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indonesian Marine Corps conducts artillery and leadership drills with US partners during RIMPAC 2026

    Indonesian Marines sharpened artillery skills in West Java and completed a US‑led NCO leadership course in Hawaii, both under RIMPAC 2026, to boost readiness and interoperability.

  4. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    RIMPAC 2026 drills test naval and medical readiness in Hawaii

    RIMPAC 2026 saw Canada’s HMCS Ottawa fire a torpedo to test a new sonar upgrade, while U.S. medical units ran a mass‑casualty drill in Hawaii, both demonstrating joint readiness.

  5. 15 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indian Navy Takes Lead in Anti‑Submarine Warfare at RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii

    India’s Navy joined RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii, leading anti‑submarine warfare as Deputy Commander Task Force, a move hailed by U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor as deepening Indo‑U.S. defence ties.

  6. 18 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Philippine Navy ship joins RIMPAC in Hawaii amid protests over U.S. ties

    A Philippine navy ship hosted a RIMPAC reception in Hawaii while about 20 protesters demonstrated against the Philippines' U.S. military ties, citing human‑rights concerns.

  7. 25 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    India deploys P‑8I maritime patrol aircraft to RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii

    India sent P‑8I maritime patrol aircraft to Hawaii for RIMPAC 2026, joining 30 nations in the biggest naval exercise to boost interoperability and counter growing Chinese presence in the Indo‑Pacific.

  8. 27 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    USS Theodore Roosevelt Leads Community and International Helicopter Exchanges at RIMPAC 2026

    USS Theodore Roosevelt participated in RIMPAC 2026, conducting community clean‑ups and tours in Hawaii and hosting an international helicopter exchange with partners from eight nations.

  9. 29 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    US-led Pacific drills include Japan island exercise and 31‑nation RIMPAC 2026

    US‑Japan drills practiced island seizure, while the 31‑nation RIMPAC exercise began in Hawaii, involving over 30,000 troops and the largest naval forces in the Pacific.

  10. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    US leads 31‑nation RIMPAC 2026 drills to counter China’s Pacific expansion

    US‑led RIMPAC 2026 with 31 nations kicks off, featuring carriers, unmanned vessels and a large sinking drill to counter China’s expanding Pacific naval activities.

  11. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    RIMPAC 2026 features expanded 30‑nation participation and unmanned submarine trials

    RIMPAC 2026, the 30th edition, sees 30 nations fielding 30,000 personnel, 30 ships and 206 aircraft in Hawaii, while U.S. submarines test unmanned undersea vehicles and Harpoon missile strikes.

  12. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Philippine Navy and Coast Guard Deploy to RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii

    The Philippines’ BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Gabriela Silang joined RIMPAC 2026 in Hawai‘i, after joint training with the U.S. Coast Guard in Guam, highlighting deepening maritime partnership.

Sources

aerotime.aero · antaranews.com · beautynury.com · chinesepress.com · culturalpolicy.com · cultuurloket.be · defence-industry.eu · dvidshub.net · epochtimes.com · globalnation.inquirer.net · hawaiitribune-herald.com · indiandefensenews.in · newindianexpress.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · nishinippon.co.jp · rmol.id · seapowermagazine.org · sputniknews.cn · utusan.com.my · vintagerecipesandcookery.com · westhawaiitoday.com