The ADF has arrived in Hawaii for the world’s largest international maritime exercise, Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 26.
RIMPAC 26, which will run June 24 to July 31, is the 30th iteration of the exercise, and will involve 31 nations, 40 surface ships, five submarines, more than 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel. Australia has participated in every Exercise RIMPAC since it began in October 1971.
This year around 430 ADF personnel will participate in the exercise, along with the Royal Australian Navy Hobart class guided missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney and Australian defence vessel (ADV) Guidance, as well as Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.
Other participating ADF capabilities include a clearance diving team and maritime specialists required to conduct the exercise in and around the Hawaiian islands.
The official theme for RIMPAC 2026 is ‘Partners: Integrated and Prepared’.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, RAN said the exercise brought participants from around the globe to reflect the shared importance of maritime security especially in the Indo-Pacific.
“Our continued support to Exercise RIMPAC reflects our longstanding commitment to strategic transparency, and the value we place on working with allies and partners,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“It’s an unparalleled opportunity to integrate with allied and partner maritime forces, conduct professional exchanges, and build person-to-person relationships.”
Key highlights for Australia will include live-fire exercises, anti-submarine warfare and air defence exercises, mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.
The shore phase will focus on the planning and fostering of professional and social engagements between participants while the sea phase will include complex warfighting scenarios.
RIMPAC 26 will also see AUKUS Pillar II partners test subsea and seabed warfare capabilities to protect critical underwater infrastructure aboard the ADV Guidance and accelerate interoperability of underwater acoustic communications through the Maritime Big Play exercise and experimentation series.
“The scale of Exercise RIMPAC 26 provides an unsurpassed training environment, enhancing how we fight as an organisation, and providing experience to individual personnel,” Vice-Admiral Jones said.
“For 45 years, Exercise RIMPAC has allowed Australia to demonstrate and build on successive generations of maritime capability and roles.”
Following the release of the 2026 National Defence Strategy, Exercise RIMPAC 26 will directly support priority tasks including how the ADF maintains the security of Australia’s economic connection to our region.
“Exercise RIMPAC 26 directly contributes to Australia’s ability to protect its maritime approaches, and respond to domestic and international threats,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“The 2026 National Defence Strategy reinforced the importance of Australia continuing with allies and partners to maintain regional stability, especially through regional training.
“Through Exercise RIMPAC 26, the ADF can demonstrate that we have the capability, capacity and resolve to defend against any potential adversary’s attempt to project power against Australia.”
