Indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik of the Indian Navy has been deployed for a mission to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean since early June, where it is currently taking part in the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. Conducted in Hawaii, RIMPAC is the world's biggest international maritime exercise conducted with participation from close to 29 nations, with 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft, and over 25,000 personnel. The exercise 'Partners: Integrated and Prepared' will go on until August 1.
Hosted by the Commander, US Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2024 will feature participating forces exercising in a broad range of activities, to include disaster relief, maritime security operations, sea control, and complex warfighting. Vice Admiral John Wade, Commander, US 3rd Fleet and RIMPAC 2024 CTF commander, underscored that the exercise shall aim at relationship-building, improved interoperability, and proficiency building in support of peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific region.
These activities conducted within RIMPAC include a number of exercises on amphibious operations, gunnery drills, missile launches, anti-submarine warfare, air defense exercises, military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-piracy, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, diving, and salvage operations.
The other participating countries, constitute Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Earlier this year, INS Shivalik participated in the Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 that took place in Yokosuka, Japan. The exercise firmly upgraded India's commitment to interoperability enhancement with partner navies, especially with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific.
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