ADF Exercises Interoperability at RIMPAC

27 Juni 2018

Formation exercise conducted by HMA Ships Adelaide, Success, Melbourne and Toowoomba in company with HMNZS Te Mana and HMCS Vancouver during the transit to Hawaii to take part in Exercise RIMPAC 18 (all photos : Aus DoD)

More than 1600 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in the United States ahead of a month of focused military training activities with 26 nations from across the globe for Exercise Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018.

The ADF has deployed HMA Ships Adelaide, Success, Toowoomba and Melbourne which have been part of the Indo Pacific Endeavour 2018 task group, one submarine, diving personnel, an amphibious landing force from the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, and one P-8A Poseidon aircraft to RIMPAC.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the exercise will provide valuable training with Australia’s partners and allies and a unique opportunity to test capabilities.

“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,” Minister Payne said.

“This year’s theme is “Capable, Adaptive Partners” and ADF personnel will exercise across a range of scenarios from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to maritime security operations and complex war fighting.”

Now in its 26th iteration, about 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, more than 200 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in the US-led exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California from 27 June to 2 August.

Chief of Joint Operations, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, said that, along with Talisman Sabre, RIMPAC is the pinnacle of high end military exercises in the region.

“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,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said.

“It provides complex and challenging training in a multinational environment, perfect for strengthening interoperability with our regional partners and allies.”

Other activities will include 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 operations and an amphibious landing.

(Aus DoD)