SIX ASEAN COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RIMPAC 2022

June 07, 2022

By: gbp.com.sg

Navies from six ASEAN countries will participate in the 28th Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California between 29 June and 4 August.

First held in 1971, this year’s RIMPAC will be the world’s largest joint naval exercise with the participation of 26 countries. No less than 38 warships, 4 submarines, 170 aircraft, and around 25,000 personnel including ground troops from nine countries will take part in the exercise.

According to the official United States Navy announcement, RIMPAC 2022 will “[…] exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. […] from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting,” The month-long exercise will also include “…amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy operations, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.”.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand are six countries in the Southeast Asia region that will join the RIMPAC 2022. Indonesia is sending its Martadinata-class frigate, KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332) along with 35 troops from the Indonesian Marine Corps, Malaysia has confirmed the participation of one of its Kasturi-class corvettes, KD Lekir (F-26) while the Philippines will send its Jose Rizal-class frigate, BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) to the exercise.

Other participating countries are Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the United States as the host and administrator of the exercise.

In previous RIMPAC exercises, China, Italy, Norway, Russia, and Vietnam have also taken part in the event.

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