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RIMPAC

RIMPAC, an acronym for Rim of the Pacific, is the world's largest international maritime exercise, hosted biennially by the United States Pacific Fleet in and around the Hawaiian Islands since its inception in 1971.^[1]^[2] Originally involving the founding participants of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, it has expanded to include up to 29 nations, encompassing surface ships, submarines, aircraft, land forces, and over 25,000 personnel in recent iterations such as 2024.^[3]^[4] The exercise emphasizes interoperability among participating forces through complex scenarios including live-fire drills, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious operations, and humanitarian assistance simulations, thereby enhancing collective maritime capabilities and regional stability.^[1]^[5] Defining achievements include pioneering integrations like the first urban search and rescue operations in 2024 and demonstrations of advanced weaponry such as the Naval Strike Missile firing from U.S. destroyers, which underscore evolving tactical proficiency amid growing Indo-Pacific challenges.^[1]^[6] While primarily cooperative, RIMPAC has faced geopolitical tensions, notably the exclusion of China after its 2014 participation due to assertive actions in the South China Sea, reflecting its role in signaling alliance cohesion without direct confrontation.^[7] ![Flag of Australia](./assets/Flag_of_Australia_converted As a cornerstone of U.S.-led maritime partnerships, RIMPAC sustains professional military relationships and deters potential aggression by demonstrating unified operational readiness across diverse forces, with recent editions incorporating unmanned systems and disaster relief to address hybrid threats.^[8]^[9]

Introduction

Definition and Purpose

The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, held biennially in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands and hosted by the United States Pacific Fleet.^[2] It integrates naval, air, and ground forces from participating nations to conduct complex, multi-domain operations, typically spanning several weeks in June and July.^[10] The exercise originated as a bilateral U.S.-Australian initiative but has expanded to include forces from up to 29 countries, emphasizing collective maritime capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.^[11] RIMPAC's core purpose is to enhance interoperability and operational proficiency among allied and partner navies, enabling seamless joint and combined operations in contested environments.^[10] This involves training in sea control, power projection, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious assaults, alongside non-combat elements such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and counter-piracy.^[12] By simulating realistic scenarios, the exercise builds military-to-military relationships, tests emerging technologies, and strengthens collective deterrence against regional threats, ultimately contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.^[13] Official U.S. Navy assessments highlight its role in integrating diverse platforms and doctrines, with participation exceeding 25,000 personnel, 40 surface ships, and 200 aircraft in recent iterations.^[11]

Founding and Organizational Evolution

The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise was founded in 1971 by five nations—the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—to foster multinational naval cooperation and improve interoperability among Pacific-focused fleets.^[14] The inaugural iteration, held in Hawaiian waters, involved limited forces from these participants and emphasized foundational maritime warfare training, amphibious operations, and anti-submarine warfare tactics.^[15] Conducted annually from 1971 to 1973, RIMPAC shifted to a biennial format starting in 1974 to manage its expanding scope, resource requirements, and logistical complexity, which had outgrown yearly execution.^[16] This adjustment, coordinated primarily by the U.S. Third Fleet, enabled deeper integration of participating assets and more elaborate scenarios while preserving the exercise's emphasis on collective maritime readiness. Organizationally, RIMPAC has progressively scaled to incorporate broader participation and refined command hierarchies, growing from five nations in 1971 to 29 active participants by 2024, supplemented by observers from additional countries.^[17] Key evolutions include the addition of land forces, aviation detachments, and humanitarian assistance components in later decades, alongside innovations like assigning component commander roles to non-founding nations—such as Chile in 2018—to distribute leadership and enhance alliance dynamics.^[18] These changes have transformed RIMPAC from a modest fleet exercise into a comprehensive multinational platform, hosted biennially in Hawaii and surrounding areas under U.S. Pacific Command oversight.^[14]

Participation and Structure

Hosting and Command

The biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise is hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), with primary operations conducted in and around the Hawaiian Islands every even-numbered year.^[1] The U.S. Third Fleet assumes lead execution responsibility, including hosting initial and final planning conferences, such as the March 2024 event at Naval Base Point Loma Annex in San Diego for RIMPAC 2024.^[19] Command authority is exercised through a Combined Task Force (CTF) structure, with the Commander of U.S. Third Fleet serving as CTF commander for the duration of the exercise.^[19] For RIMPAC 2024, Vice Adm. John Wade held this role, overseeing multinational forces comprising approximately 40 surface ships, three submarines, 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel from 29 nations.^[20] Vice commanders and deputy leads are drawn from allied navies to enhance coordination; in 2024, Rear Adm. (Lower Half) Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force served as vice commander, while Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of the Royal Canadian Navy led CTF-154 for maritime operations.^[21] Subordinate task forces handle specialized components, such as CTF-176 for amphibious operations, commanded by officers from participating nations like Republic of Korea Navy Rear Adm. (LH) Sangmin An in prior iterations.^[22] This structure ensures U.S. oversight of strategic direction while integrating multinational input for tactical execution, fostering interoperability without ceding overall authority.^[19]

Participating Nations and Observers

RIMPAC exercises feature active participation from the United States and allied or partner nations, with the scale expanding since its inception to foster multilateral maritime cooperation. In the 2024 exercise, 29 nations deployed a combined total of 40 surface ships, three submarines, over 150 aircraft, 14 national land forces, and approximately 25,000 personnel.^[3] ^[11] The participating nations included:

These contributions encompassed naval vessels such as the Australian HMAS Sydney, Japanese JS Izumo, and Chilean CNS Almirante Condell, alongside U.S. assets like the carrier USS Carl Vinson and submarine USS North Carolina.^[3] Participation levels vary by nation and exercise cycle, with core contributors like Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom involved since early iterations, while others such as Israel and Italy represent more recent expansions to broaden interoperability beyond the Indo-Pacific.^[7]^[23] In addition to active participants, RIMPAC accommodates observer nations that send liaison officers or staff to monitor operations, engage in planning, and build familiarity without deploying forces or ships. This observer role facilitates strategic-level involvement and preparation for potential future participation; for instance, Vietnam observed the 2012 and 2016 exercises before deploying a liaison officer in 2018.^[24] Observer nations in specific cycles have included Fiji, Guatemala, and Poland, though lists are not consistently detailed in official releases and fluctuate based on invitations extended by the U.S. Pacific Fleet.^[25]

Objectives and Training Components

Maritime Warfare and Tactical Scenarios

RIMPAC's maritime warfare training encompasses multi-domain operations, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, air defense, and amphibious assaults, to build tactical proficiency in complex naval environments.^[19] These scenarios simulate peer-level threats through integrated live, virtual, and constructive exercises, emphasizing coordination among surface ships, submarines, aircraft, and unmanned systems.^[13] Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) phases involve multinational forces detecting, tracking, and engaging submerged threats using sonar, torpedoes, and depth charges from helicopters, ships, and submarines.^[26] In RIMPAC iterations, ASW drills refine undersea proficiency by integrating diverse assets, such as U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft with allied frigates, to counter submarine incursions in contested waters.^[27] Surface warfare components feature multi-ship engagements, where participants practice missile launches, gunnery, and electronic warfare against simulated enemy vessels.^[19] Live-fire sinking exercises (SINKEX) provide realistic testing of anti-surface capabilities, with forces expending ordnance to neutralize decommissioned hulks at sea. During RIMPAC 2024, multiple SINKEX events sank retired ships using Harpoon missiles, naval gunfire, and aerial bombs from over 40 surface vessels and 150 aircraft, validating tactics and weapon accuracy under joint command.^[28] Innovations in these drills include unmanned surface vessels for live-fire trials, as in U.S.-Republic of Korea tests firing precision-guided munitions from common unmanned platforms.^[29] Amphibious scenarios culminate in raids and landings, with marines and naval infantry executing ship-to-shore movements via landing craft and helicopters against defended objectives.^[30] Mine countermeasures training addresses littoral threats by simulating clearance operations to secure straits for carrier strike groups, employing minehunters, divers, and unmanned underwater vehicles to locate and neutralize explosive devices.^[31] Tactical scenarios often frame operations around fictional island chains, enabling participants to rehearse blockade enforcement, maritime interdiction, and defense against invasion without referencing specific geopolitical conflicts.^[32] Air defense integrations involve layered protections against missile and aircraft incursions, using Aegis systems and fighter jets to intercept simulated salvos during fleet maneuvers.^[19] These elements collectively stress interoperability, with command structures rotating leadership roles to expose forces to allied procedures and decision-making under simulated combat stress.^[26]

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) training constitutes a core component of RIMPAC exercises, simulating multinational responses to natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons that affect Pacific Rim populations.^[33] These scenarios emphasize rapid deployment of expeditionary forces, including medical evacuations, logistics for aid distribution, and coordination with civilian agencies to restore critical infrastructure like ports and airfields.^[34] For instance, participants practice mass casualty triage, urban search and rescue operations, and aerial damage assessments to enhance real-world readiness for crises impacting densely populated coastal areas.^[35] Introduced as a dedicated week-long event in 2012, HA/DR phases integrate military units from participating nations with local Hawaiian emergency responders and hospitals, certifying their interoperability under unified command structures.^[33] ^[36] Training focuses on cross-service and cross-national challenges, such as synchronizing communication protocols and resource sharing during mass evacuations of thousands of simulated personnel, thereby building capacity for independent or coalition-led operations without U.S. dominance.^[34] In recent iterations, innovations like the first-ever urban search and rescue drills have expanded scope to include collapsed structure extractions and integration of unmanned systems for surveying disaster zones.^[37] The HA/DR emphasis underscores RIMPAC's role in fostering trust among allies for non-combat contingencies, where delays in response can exacerbate human suffering; exercises reveal gaps in procedural alignment, such as varying medical standards or equipment compatibility, prompting iterative improvements.^[38] By involving up to eight nations in coordinated drills, as seen in 2024, the training validates scalable responses that mirror actual regional events, prioritizing empirical outcomes over doctrinal uniformity.^[39]

Interoperability, Innovation, and Experiments

RIMPAC facilitates interoperability by integrating forces from multiple nations into unified command structures and tactical scenarios, enabling participants to practice standardized procedures for maritime operations, including anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and amphibious assaults. This multinational framework allows for the exchange of doctrinal knowledge and the refinement of communication protocols, reducing friction in joint missions. For instance, during RIMPAC 2022, allied navies collaborated on live-fire sinking exercises involving over 25 nations, demonstrating synchronized targeting and engagement tactics.^[40] The exercise serves as a testbed for innovation, particularly in unmanned and autonomous systems, where prototypes are deployed in realistic environments to evaluate manned-unmanned teaming. In RIMPAC 2022, four experimental large unmanned surface vessels (USVs) operated alongside manned ships, conducting missions in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare, with approximately 40 experiments focused on integrating these platforms into fleet operations.^[41]^[42]^[43] Recent iterations have emphasized advanced networking and additive manufacturing. RIMPAC 2024 tested elements of Project Overmatch, a U.S. Navy initiative for mesh networking across air, surface, subsurface, and space domains, involving distributed sensors and effectors in multinational scenarios. Naval Postgraduate School teams demonstrated 3D printing for on-demand part production, using metal and polymer printers to fabricate components during the exercise, enhancing sustainment in austere conditions.^[44]^[45] Weapon system experiments highlight precision strike capabilities with unmanned platforms. In July 2024, a Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) successfully launched Poniard anti-ship rockets in a live-fire demonstration, marking the first such integration in a multinational setting. The U.S. and Republic of Korea navies jointly fired from a CUSV during the same exercise, validating cross-nation compatibility for unmanned lethality.^[46]^[29] Earlier experiments have included ground robotics and aerial prototypes, such as the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) tested by Marines in RIMPAC 2014 for logistics in contested terrain, and unmanned hybrid air vehicles in the same year to assess vertical takeoff capabilities. These efforts underscore RIMPAC's role in accelerating the maturation of technologies through iterative, large-scale trials with allied feedback.^[47]^[48]

Historical Development

Inception and Early Exercises (1971-1990)

The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise originated in 1971 as a U.S.-led initiative by the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, to enhance interoperability and operational coordination among allied navies operating in the Pacific theater.^[2] Conceived amid Cold War tensions and the need for collective maritime readiness against Soviet naval forces, the exercise emphasized practical training in sea control and power projection, including anti-submarine warfare, surface gunnery, and fleet maneuvers.^[49] The inaugural event, conducted from July 26 to August 6, 1971, near Oahu, Hawaii, involved approximately 40 ships, 200 aircraft, and 16,000 personnel from five nations: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.^[7] Early iterations remained focused on core allied partners, primarily English-speaking Commonwealth and Five Eyes nations, reflecting strategic priorities for seamless integration without broader multinational expansion at the time.^[50] RIMPAC was conducted annually through 1974, with exercises in 1972, 1973, and 1974 building on foundational tactics such as coordinated amphibious landings and air defense drills.^[51] In 1974, the schedule shifted to biennial due to escalating resource demands and fiscal constraints on participating forces, a change that persisted thereafter.^[51] Subsequent exercises in the 1970s, such as 1975 and 1978, maintained modest scales, prioritizing tactical proficiency over large-scale simulations, with participation limited to the original five countries and no documented additions until the late 1980s.^[49] Throughout the 1980s, RIMPAC evolved incrementally to incorporate emerging technologies and scenarios, including electronic warfare and live-fire engagements against surrogate targets, while adhering to its deterrence-oriented roots.^[12] Exercises in 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1988 featured enhanced focus on multinational command structures and interoperability testing, with the U.S. providing carrier strike groups as central assets.^[7] By RIMPAC 1990, the twentieth in the series, core participants had honed procedures for joint operations, setting the stage for post-Cold War broadening, though numbers remained constrained to roughly 20-30 ships and under 20,000 personnel per event.^[7] These early phases underscored causal linkages between repeated training and improved allied cohesion, yielding verifiable gains in response times and procedural alignment as evidenced by after-action reports.^[12]

Post-Cold War Expansion (1992-2008)

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, RIMPAC exercises transitioned from a primary focus on anti-submarine warfare against a singular adversary to broader multinational interoperability training, incorporating more diverse [Pacific Rim](/page/Pacific Rim) participants to promote regional stability and collective maritime capabilities. In RIMPAC 1992, five nations—Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States—deployed over 45 ships, 200 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 personnel for operations conducted from June 19 to August 2 around the Hawaiian Islands.^[52]^[53] This iteration maintained the core participants from prior Cold War-era exercises while emphasizing integrated tactical maneuvers. The 1994 edition similarly involved Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States, with training commencing in Hawaiian waters on May 23, underscoring continuity in allied coordination amid shifting global security dynamics.^[54] A significant milestone occurred in 1996 with the inclusion of Chile as the first South American participant, expanding the exercise to six nations: Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. Chile contributed assets such as the submarine Simpson and frigate Lynch, enabling cross-hemispheric training in amphibious operations, anti-surface warfare, and live-fire exercises.^[7]^[55] This addition reflected post-Cold War efforts to broaden partnerships beyond traditional Asia-Pacific allies, fostering trust and operational familiarity with emerging hemispheric contributors. The 1998 exercise retained these six nations, with forces conducting month-long drills starting July 6, including advanced scenarios for air-land-sea integration observed by non-participants such as China and Russia.^[56]^[49] Further growth materialized in 2000, when the United Kingdom joined, bringing the total to seven nations: Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with over 50 ships and 200 aircraft engaged in multinational maneuvers.^[7]^[57] This iteration highlighted enhanced power projection and sea control elements, aligning with evolving U.S. strategic priorities in the Pacific. By 2004, the same seven nations participated, deploying forces for comprehensive training that included amphibious assaults and coordinated strikes, reinforcing tactical proficiency among diverse naval architectures.^[58]^[59] The period culminated in substantial diversification by 2008, with ten nations involved: Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. New entrants such as the Netherlands, Peru, and Singapore introduced varied assets, including frigates and amphibious units, expanding scenarios to encompass urban search-and-rescue precursors and multinational command structures.^[60]^[49] This growth from five to ten participants over the decade facilitated deeper interoperability, with exercises emphasizing adaptive partnerships amid rising regional complexities, while maintaining a commitment to rules-based maritime order.^[61]

Modern Strategic Focus (2010-2018)

During the 2010-2018 period, RIMPAC exercises increasingly aligned with the United States' strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, announced in 2011, which sought to counterbalance China's expanding military presence through enhanced alliances, interoperability, and deterrence capabilities. This shift emphasized building trust among partners while preparing for complex maritime threats, including anti-access/area-denial strategies and submarine proliferation in the region. Participation expanded from 14 nations in 2010 to 25 in 2018, incorporating assets like 34 surface ships and 179 aircraft in 2010 to 46 ships, five submarines, and over 200 aircraft by 2018, enabling realistic simulations of sea control, amphibious operations, and integrated fires.^[62]^[63] RIMPAC 2010 focused on foundational tactical proficiency in combined operations, including live-fire gunnery, anti-submarine warfare, and boarding tactics, to foster multilateral coordination amid post-financial crisis fiscal constraints and emerging Indo-Pacific dynamics. By 2012, the exercise introduced humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios for the first time, reflecting a dual emphasis on cooperative security and warfighting fundamentals, while welcoming Russia and India to broaden alliance networks under the nascent rebalance strategy.^[64]^[49]^[65] The 2014 iteration marked a pivotal inclusion of China as an observer-turned-participant, ostensibly to promote transparency and trust-building in line with rebalance goals of collaboration over confrontation, though core training stressed adaptive partnerships for maritime security operations ranging from counter-piracy to high-intensity conflict. This period saw heightened focus on anti-submarine and missile defense drills, driven by empirical assessments of regional submarine deployments and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.^[66]^[67]^[68] From 2016 onward, strategic emphasis incorporated emerging domains like cyber defense and unmanned systems integration, with RIMPAC 2016 testing unmanned aerial and surface vehicles in amphibious assaults to enhance expeditionary force resilience against peer competitors. The 2018 exercise explicitly prioritized lethality, agility, and innovation—via a dedicated expo showcasing 22 technologies—to deter major-power aggression, including advanced anti-submarine warfare experiments leveraging oceanographic data for undersea dominance. These evolutions underscored causal linkages between exercise scale, technological experimentation, and U.S. Pacific Command's deterrence posture against revisionist actors.^[69]^[70]^[63]^[71]

Recent Exercises

RIMPAC 2020

The 27th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, held from August 17 to 31, 2020, was substantially scaled back from its traditional format due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by U.S. Pacific Fleet and led by Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Vice Adm. Scott D. Conn, the event shifted to at-sea-only operations around the Hawaiian Islands, eliminating all port visits, shore-based activities, amphibious landings, and urban training to minimize health risks to participants and Hawaii's population.^[72]^[73]^[74] This adjustment reduced the exercise duration from the usual five weeks to two weeks and limited participation to core allies, prioritizing operational readiness over expansive multinational integration.^[75]^[76] Ten nations contributed forces: Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Approximately 5,300 personnel deployed across 22 surface ships and one submarine, representing about one-fifth of typical RIMPAC personnel numbers and one-third of usual participating countries.^[77]^[78]^[79] Strict COVID-19 mitigation protocols, including testing, quarantine measures, and social distancing on vessels, were enforced by all participants to safeguard Hawaii's communities amid heightened local scrutiny over potential virus introduction.^[73]^[80] Training emphasized maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, and live-fire exercises in tactical scenarios, with Australia and the Republic of Korea providing task force commanders to enhance interoperability leadership roles. The exercise concluded on August 31, 2020, after validating adaptive multinational coordination under constrained conditions, though it forwent advanced components like humanitarian assistance simulations or innovation experiments typically featured in full-scale iterations.^[81]^[78]^[82]

RIMPAC 2022

The 28th iteration of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) occurred from June 29 to August 4, 2022, primarily in and around the Hawaiian Islands, with additional events off Southern California.^[83] Under the theme "Capable, Adaptive, Partners," it emphasized building cooperative relationships among participants while enhancing warfighting readiness through realistic training scenarios.^[83] Approximately 25,000 personnel from 26 nations took part, deploying 38 surface ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft, nine national land forces, and over 30 unmanned systems.^[83]^[84] Participating nations included Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the United States.^[83] Training encompassed a broad spectrum of operations, including amphibious assaults, gunnery and missile exercises, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, counter-piracy, mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, diving and salvage, maritime security, sea control, and complex warfighting scenarios.^[83] Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief components featured simulated mass casualty responses and medical evacuations, with innovations such as a first-time multinational mass recovery operation involving Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States.^[85] The exercise integrated efforts to improve force sustainability and lethality in contested environments, testing new equipment and tactics for prolonged operations in the Indo-Pacific.^[86] Nine nations—Australia, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Tonga, and the United States—conducted a major amphibious assault phase, demonstrating integrated ground, air, and maritime capabilities.^[87] Upon conclusion, officials noted strengthened interoperability and partnerships, with lessons from the event informing planning for future iterations like RIMPAC 2024.^[88]^[87]

RIMPAC 2024

The 29th iteration of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) was conducted from June 27 to August 1, 2024, across training areas in and around the Hawaiian Islands, hosted by the United States Third Fleet under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.^[89]^[19] It involved approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces with more than 3,000 personnel, over 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 total participants, emphasizing multinational interoperability in maritime operations.^[11]^[90] The exercise incorporated phases for force integration, tactical scenarios including anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations, and live-fire engagements, with a focus on enhancing collective capabilities amid regional security challenges.^[1] Key activities included the largest humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) component in RIMPAC history, featuring eight nations, five ships, five landing craft, and over 1,000 personnel simulating responses to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.^[17] Multinational forces executed multiple sinking exercises (SINKEXs), where decommissioned vessels were targeted with live ordnance from ships and aircraft to practice precision strikes.^[91] An amphibious raid involving ships and aircraft from participating nations demonstrated coordinated assault tactics.^[92] Innovations tested included integration of Project Overmatch, a U.S. Navy initiative for joint all-domain command and control, enabling data sharing across allied platforms during operations.^[44] The exercise featured the first U.S. Navy destroyer demonstration firing of the Naval Strike Missile from USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), validating extended-range anti-surface capabilities.^[1] Additionally, a successful live-fire test of Poniard anti-ship rockets occurred, launched from a U.S. vessel to assess modular payload integration against surface threats.^[46] Undersea warfare efforts under Combined Task Force 174 focused on anti-submarine coordination and water space management to prevent mutual interference among submarines and surface units.^[93] Public engagement elements included an open ship day on August 12, 2024, allowing civilians and military personnel to tour naval assets from multiple nations at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.^[94] Overall, RIMPAC 2024 advanced tactical proficiency and technological experimentation while reinforcing alliances, with no major incidents reported in official summaries.^[51]

Strategic Significance

Alliance Building and Collective Defense

RIMPAC facilitates alliance building by convening naval forces from up to 29 partner nations every two years, enabling military personnel to develop interpersonal trust and operational familiarity through shared training scenarios.^[66] This process integrates diverse command structures, communication protocols, and tactical doctrines, as demonstrated in exercises where multinational task forces execute complex maneuvers such as anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations.^[84] For instance, during RIMPAC 2022, participants from allies like Australia, Japan, and South Korea collaborated on live-fire drills, reinforcing bilateral and trilateral defense ties beyond formal treaties such as AUKUS or the Quad.^[66] The exercise's emphasis on interoperability—achieved via standardized procedures and technology sharing—directly bolsters collective defense mechanisms in the Indo-Pacific, where no single nation possesses sufficient resources to counter large-scale maritime aggression alone.^[95] By simulating coalition responses to hypothetical contingencies, RIMPAC enhances rapid force projection and logistics coordination, critical for scenarios involving territorial disputes or supply line disruptions. U.S. Pacific Fleet assessments highlight how these interactions yield tangible improvements in joint mission execution, with participating navies reporting increased proficiency in allied data links and sensor fusion post-exercise.^[96] In practice, RIMPAC extends beyond core allies to include emerging partners from Latin America and Southeast Asia, such as Chile and Indonesia, broadening the network of capable contributors to regional stability without requiring mutual defense pacts.^[5] This inclusive approach has incrementally strengthened deterrence postures; for example, integrated air defense drills in recent iterations have aligned participants' capabilities against advanced aerial threats, fostering a de facto collective security architecture grounded in repeated, verifiable cooperation rather than declarative commitments.^[97]

Deterrence Against Regional Threats

RIMPAC exercises enhance multinational interoperability and operational readiness, enabling participating forces to project power and respond collectively to aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, where threats include China's territorial claims and military buildup in the South China Sea and East China Sea, as well as North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. By integrating over 40 surface ships, submarines, and more than 3,000 personnel from 29 nations in RIMPAC 2024, the exercise demonstrates the scale and cohesion of allied capabilities, signaling to adversaries the high costs of coercive actions or invasion attempts.^[11]^[30] Scenarios in recent RIMPAC iterations, such as anti-submarine warfare drills and amphibious assaults, directly address regional vulnerabilities like China's expanding submarine fleet—estimated at over 60 vessels—and North Korea's development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which tested a new ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. mainland in October 2024. These trainings improve detection, tracking, and neutralization tactics, fostering a deterrent effect through credible extended deterrence commitments, as reaffirmed in U.S.-ally dialogues emphasizing integrated defense against missile threats.^[98]^[99]^[100] Participation by frontline allies including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines bolsters deterrence against specific flashpoints, such as disputes over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands or potential blockades in the Taiwan Strait, by enabling seamless joint operations that complicate adversary calculations. U.S. Pacific Fleet commanders have noted that RIMPAC's focus on complex, high-end warfare prepares forces to deter escalation, contributing to stability amid China's coercive maritime activities documented in annual Defense Department reports.^[101]^[102]

Controversies and Criticisms

Environmental and Ecological Impacts

RIMPAC exercises have been associated with acoustic disturbances from mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS) used in antisubmarine warfare training, potentially causing behavioral disruptions, injuries, or strandings in marine mammals. In July 2004, during RIMPAC, approximately 150 melon-headed whales stranded in Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii, with a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) report later deeming sonar a "plausible, if not likely" cause due to the temporal correlation and known physiological effects of intense underwater noise on cetaceans, including temporary threshold shifts and disorientation.^[103]^[104] Similar incidents, such as beaked whale strandings in 2006 and 2008 near Hawaii during or proximate to RIMPAC, prompted lawsuits alleging violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, leading to NMFS issuing Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for non-lethal "takes" by Level B harassment during exercises.^[105]^[106] Explosive ordnance and live-fire sink-ex exercises during RIMPAC contribute to habitat disruption and potential contaminant release. Sinking obsolete ships with munitions releases heavy metals, plastics, and unexploded ordnance into ocean sediments, affecting benthic ecosystems and fish populations without comprehensive post-exercise environmental surveys in surrounding island nations' waters.^[107] Studies cited in legal challenges indicate that underwater detonations can cause mortality in fish and sea turtles via blast overpressure and habitat alteration, with RIMPAC's scale— involving thousands of participants and vessels— amplifying cumulative pressures on endangered species like green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals.^[108] Fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from RIMPAC's multinational fleet represent a significant but underreported ecological footprint, as U.S. military activities are exempt from standard international emissions reporting. The exercises involve dozens of ships and aircraft operating for weeks around Hawaii, contributing to the Pentagon's status as one of the world's largest institutional emitters, with RIMPAC exemplifying high-intensity fuel use; for instance, the 2016 iteration incorporated 10% biofuel blends to mitigate impacts, yet overall diesel and jet fuel combustion releases substantial CO2 equivalents.^[109]^[110] Mitigation measures, including marine species awareness training and sonar power-down protocols when mammals are sighted, are mandated under IHAs, but critics argue enforcement gaps persist due to the vast exercise areas exceeding effective monitoring capacity.^[111] Navy after-action reports from events like RIMPAC 2006 document actual sonar hours often exceeding predictions, underscoring challenges in balancing operational needs with ecological safeguards.^[112]

Local Sovereignty and Community Concerns

Native Hawaiian sovereignty advocates and local community groups have raised objections to RIMPAC exercises, viewing them as perpetuating historical military occupation of ceded lands and sacred sites following the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.^[113] These concerns intensified with the U.S. Navy's past use of Kaho'olawe for live-fire training during earlier RIMPAC iterations, which desecrated culturally significant areas and contributed to environmental degradation until federal cessation of bombing in 1990 amid protests by the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana movement.^[113] Activists argue that ongoing multinational drills reinforce foreign control over indigenous territories, undermining self-determination claims recognized in U.N. resolutions on decolonization.^[110] In recent exercises, such as RIMPAC 2024, anti-war coalitions including Native Hawaiian organizations gathered in Honolulu to demand an end to the biennial war games, citing risks to local ecosystems and cultural heritage from ship movements and simulated combat near coastal communities.^[114] Protesters highlighted disruptions from the influx of over 25,000 personnel, including traffic congestion, noise from low-flying aircraft, and strain on housing and healthcare resources in Oahu and Hawaii Island locales.^[115] Similar demonstrations occurred outside the Pohakuloa Training Area during RIMPAC 2018, where sovereignty groups linked exercises to broader militarization eroding community autonomy.^[116] Community leaders have also expressed apprehensions over indirect effects, such as elevated collision risks for marine life and fishermen in exercise zones, which intersect traditional fishing grounds vital to Native Hawaiian sustenance practices.^[117] While military officials assert compliance with environmental assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act, critics from local activist networks contend these overlook cumulative sovereignty erosions, advocating for greater consultation with kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) stakeholders prior to approvals.^[110] These objections persist despite economic contributions from participant spending, estimated in millions annually, as groups prioritize long-term cultural preservation over short-term fiscal gains.^[118]

Geopolitical Objections and Exclusions

China participated as an observer in RIMPAC exercises in 2014 and 2016 but was disinvited from the 2018 iteration onward due to its militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea, including the deployment of anti-ship missiles, fighter jets, and other military assets on artificial islands, which U.S. officials stated raised tensions and destabilized the region.^[119]^[120] This exclusion continued in subsequent exercises, with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command emphasizing in 2024 that invitations were extended only to "responsible partners," explicitly barring China amid ongoing territorial assertiveness.^[121] Russia received an invitation to RIMPAC 2012 but has not participated since, declining further involvement amid strained U.S.-Russia relations exacerbated by events such as the 2014 annexation of Crimea and subsequent sanctions; in 2016, Russia opted to deploy an intelligence vessel to monitor the exercise rather than join.^[122] Taiwan, despite close U.S. security ties, has been consistently excluded to avoid provoking Beijing, as evidenced by its absence from the 2020 exercise despite U.S. invitations to other Indo-Pacific partners.^[123] Geopolitical objections to these exclusions primarily emanate from Beijing, which has framed RIMPAC as a U.S.-led mechanism for containing China and encircling it with alliances, particularly as participant numbers grew to include nations like India and Vietnam with their own South China Sea disputes.^[124] Chinese state media and officials have downplayed the snub, attributing self-isolation to U.S. "hegemony" while criticizing the exercise for escalating regional arms races, though empirical data on China's own naval expansion—such as the People's Liberation Army Navy surpassing the U.S. Navy in hull count by 2020—undermines claims of unilateral provocation.^[125] Russian commentary has occasionally echoed similar sentiments, portraying RIMPAC as part of NATO's Pacific pivot against Eurasian powers, but lacks the intensity of Chinese rhetoric given Russia's limited Pacific naval projection.^[126] Some analysts argue the exclusions risk foreclosing military-to-military dialogue that could mitigate miscalculations, citing China's prior RIMPAC involvement as fostering professional exchanges despite tensions; however, U.S. assessments prioritize interoperability among aligned partners over inclusive participation with actors demonstrating territorial revisionism.^[127] Among participating nations, objections are minimal, though select Indo-Pacific allies have expressed private concerns over potential retaliation from excluded powers, such as economic coercion, underscoring the exercise's role in signaling collective deterrence without direct confrontation.^[120]

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Mar 26, 2025 · ... RIMPAC. In Honolulu, that resulted in about 25,000 soldiers coming into town. But there's also the impact on our local communities and families.Missing: concerns | Show results with:concerns
[119]
China Disinvited from Participating in 2018 RIMPAC Exercise
May 23, 2018 · China's continued militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea only serve to raise tensions and destabilize the region. As an ...
[120]
What China's RIMPAC Exclusion Means for US Allies - The Diplomat
May 26, 2018 · China's behavior is inconsistent with the principles and purposes of the RIMPAC exercise.” Logan goes on to name specifically two areas of the ...Missing: Russia | Show results with:Russia
[121]
U.S. invites responsible partners to largest ever RIMPAC
the most ever.
[122]
[PDF] Sea Control and Foreign Policy - U.S. Naval War College
India and China participated in RIMPAC 2016, though Russia had not been invited and instead dispatched a spy ship to trail the exercises. Inviting all three ...
[123]
Taiwan excluded from RIMPAC war games as US avoids crossing ...
Aug 17, 2020 · Taiwan has been excluded from the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) in what analysts see as a sign that Washington is treading carefully.Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
[124]
Was China's RIMPAC Exclusion an Opening Salvo or a Wasted Shot?
Jul 20, 2018 · While some observers applauded the Trump administration's decision to exclude China from this year's RIMPAC exercise, others worried that the ...Missing: objections | Show results with:objections
[125]
China Downplays Exclusion from US-Led Naval Exercises - VOA
Jul 2, 2018 · Beijing sealed itself off from RIMPAC by placing missiles and fighter jets in the disputed South China Sea and passing naval vessels and ...
[126]
US Navy Rim of The Pacific (RIMPAC) War Games, Coopting China ...
Jul 10, 2016 · So far from being seen as an enduring antagonist, the USA continues to regard China as a potential ally in the containment of Russia and a ...<|separator|>
[127]
Include China in 2016 RIMPAC Exercise: "Punishing" Beijing by ...
Jun 3, 2015 · Include China in 2016 RIMPAC Exercise: “Punishing” Beijing by Exclusion Would be Short-Sighted. Chinese involvement would reduce the burden ...