BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), a Philippine Navy (PN) Jose Rizal-class frigate, participated in a multinational group sail with Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia in the Pacific Ocean ahead of the world’s largest maritime exercises which will take place at the end of this month.
The BRP Antonio Luna joined Singapore Navy’s Formidable-class RSS Intrepid, Indian Navy's Shivalik-class frigate INS Satpura, Indonesian Navy’s Martadinata-class frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai, and Malaysian Navy’s Kasturi-class corvette KD Lekir as they sailed together from June 16 to 18 in vast waters.
“The ships conducted a series of drills while underway from Guam to Hawaii, which included maneuvering and communication exercises,” the Ministry of Defence of Singapore said in a Facebook post on Monday, June 20.
The group sail occurred weeks before the scheduled Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise in the waters off Honolulu, Hawaii from June 29 to August 4.
Last June 8, the PN held a send-off ceremony in Subic, Zambales for the Naval Task Group 80.5, the contingent that will join the RIMPAC.
The PN will join 25 other navies from different countries for the RIMPAC, the world’s largest naval war games.
Around 38 ships, four submarines, 170 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are expected to participate in the biennial event.
It is the PN’s third time to join the RIMPAC, having been a participant in 2018 and 2020.