The Philippine Navy (PN) will deploy a contingent to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise, the world’s premier and largest maritime warfare exercise to be hosted by the United States Navy in Honolulu, Hawaii from June 29 to August 4.
Commander Benjo Negranza, PN spokesperson, said Naval Task Group (NTG) 80.5 will serve as the country’s representative to the multinational naval exercise.
The NTG 80.5 is composed of Navy personnel aboard the Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) and an AgustaWestland AW109 aircraft.
They will sail to Hawaii from the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales on June 8.
“The task group... will develop, maintain, and enhance the Navy’s pursuit of maritime collaboration with its counterparts through the exercise, one of the PN’s major International Defense and Security Engagement activities,” Negranza said.
According to the US Navy, 26 nations, 38 surface ships, four submarines, nine national land forces, over 170 aircraft, and approximately 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial exercise.
It will be the 28th iteration of RIMPAC since it began in 1971 and PN’s participation will be its after its maiden participation in 2018 and its sophomore run in 2020. The theme for this year’s exercise is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.”
“As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s interconnected oceans,” the US Navy said in a statement.
Aside from the Philippines, among the participating countries include the Quad nations namely India, Japan, Australia and the United States as the host.
Also included are Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, and United Kingdom.
The participating forces are expected to train in a wide array of capabilities such as disaster relief and maritime security operations, sea control, and complex warfighting.
The trainings will also include amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defense exercises, counter-piracy operations, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.