CAF Personnel Participate in Largest International Maritime Exercise

The world’s largest international maritime exercise is underway for its 28th edition in the Indo-Pacific region.

In this year’s iteration of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), which will take place from June 29 to Aug. 4, Royal Canadian Navy Rear Adm. Christopher Robinson will serve as deputy commander of the Combined Task Force.

“It’s great to see the exercise return to the scale that we have seen in previous years, enabling the combined forces of our 26 partner and allied nations to work together and learn from each other,”

“RIMPAC provides us with the opportunity to grow and refine our individual and combined abilities, and our joint capacity to contribute to security in the Indo-Pacific region. This helps us all,” said Robinson.

“We are each maritime nations and we rely on each other to help keep our sea lanes free and open.”

 About RIMPAC 2022

Led by the United States Navy, RIMPAC 2022 will consist of 26 nations, 38 surface ships, four submarines, nine national land forces, more than 30 unmanned systems, approximately 170 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel who will train and operate in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

“By coming together as Capable, Adaptive Partners, and in the scale that we are, we are making a statement about our commitment to work together, to foster and sustain those relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of the sea lanes and the security of the world’s interconnected oceans.

“This is also how we find the areas where our national objectives overlap, where we can practice the procedures that will help to enable our interchangeability – the nexus of national will and interoperability,” said VAdm. Michael Boyle, RIMPAC 2022 Commander, while welcoming participants during a kick-off gather of leaders from across the RIMPAC force.

2022 Exercise to Include Space & Cyber Operations

This year’s program will include gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, diving, and salvage operations.

Additionally, the exercise will also introduce space and cyber operations for all partner nations, stated a RIMPAC press release.

According to the press release, this is the first time the Republic of Korea Rear Adm. Sangmin An will serve as the Commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 176, RIMPAC’s amphibious task force.

 Other Significant Leadership Roles Include:

• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Toshiyuki Hirata as the vice commander
• Fleet Marine Force will be led by U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Joseph Clearfield.
• Commodore Paul O’Grady of the Royal Australian Navy will command the maritime component.
• Brig. Gen. Mark Goulden of the Royal Canadian Air Force will command the air component.
• Republic of Singapore Navy Col. Kwan Hon Chuong will serve as the Sea Combat Commander for
• CTF 176 Royal Australian Navy Capt. Michael Osborn CSM will serve as the Sea Logistics Commander, CTF 173.

According to RIMPAC, this is also the first time the newly commissioned Royal Australian Navy Supply Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship HMAS Supply will participate in an international exercise, carrying-out replenishments at seas with participating navies.