Onlookers watch as aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on June 23, 2026, to participate in the Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise. (Erik Melgar/U.S. Navy)
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise that began Wednesday will include more than two dozen experiments with unmanned systems and the sinking of two derelict ships, the deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet said Wednesday.
“This summer we are joined by forces from 30 nations, 31 surface ships, five submarines, 1,100 landing forces, 197 aircraft and approximately 30,000 personnel,” Vice Adm. Jeffery Jablon, who is serving as the commander of RIMPAC’s combined task force, told reporters during a news conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
He was joined by Commodore Andres Howard of the Chilean navy serving as deputy commander of the combined task force; Rear Adm. Takuo Kobayashi of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force serving as vice commander of the combined task force; Rear Adm. In-Ho Kim of the South Korean navy commanding the exercise’s maritime component; and Brig. Gen. J.S. Davis of the Royal Canadian Air Force commanding RIMPAC’s air component.
Jablon noted that this year’s RIMPAC carries additional significance as it occurs on the anniversary of America’s founding in 1776.
“For 250 years, our nation has built enduring relationships with allies and partners based on trust, mutual respect and shared interests,” he said. “RIMPAC is where those relationships are strengthened through action.”
Jablon, however, offered few details about the events scheduled for the exercise hosted by Pacific Fleet that runs through July 31.
Participants will conduct a full range of drills, including anti-submarine, anti-air and land warfare; humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery; and search and rescue, Jablon said.
Previous years have also included diving and salvage operations, amphibious landings, mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal.
Alongside those typical RIMPAC operations will be 30 to 35 experiments utilizing unmanned systems throughout the exercise, Jablon said.
“I don’t want to go into the specifics of those specific systems that we are testing, but it will be a major part of RIMPAC operations,” he said.
As in RIMPAC 2024, two “hulks” of old vessels will be sunk with live fire, Jablon said, offering no further details.
The U.S. Navy touts RIMPAC, first held in 1971, as the largest international exercise in the world.
Nations participating this year are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Poland, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom.
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which arrived in Hawaii on Tuesday, will lead a small fleet of U.S. vessels during the exercise, among them the guided-missile destroyers USS Paul Hamilton, USS Decatur, USS Wayne E. Meyer and USS Carl M. Levin.
Participating vessels have been flowing into Pearl Harbor in recent days.
On Wednesday, the Royal Australian Navy’s guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney and the support ship Guidance arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Peru’s submarine BAP Chipana, South Korea’s submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and Canada’s submarine HMCS Corner Brook were moored in a row at the joint base as of Tuesday.
