India’s P-8i maritime patrol aircraft in Hawaii for RIMPAC exercise

Indian Navy’s P-8i maritime patrol aircraft are in Hawaii to participate in Exercise Pacific Rim, the world’s largest naval exercise organized by the US Pacific Fleet.

“Indian Navy’s participation reaffirms its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific by enhancing interoperability, Maritime Domain Awareness and cooperation with partner navies,” the Indian Embassy in the US said in a post on X.

The theme of Exercise 30 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2026) is ‘Partners: Integrated and Prepared’. A series of exercises began in 1971.

Thirty countries, more than 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft, and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24 to July 31.

RIMPAC provides a unique educational opportunity while fostering and sustaining collaborative relationships among participants that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and the world’s oceans.

“By training together in complex, realistic scenarios, participating nations are improving readiness, improving warfighting skills, and strengthening the interoperability needed to work effectively with each other whenever and wherever needed,” RIMPAC 2026 Commander, Combined Task Forces (CCTF) Vice Adm. Jeff Jablon said in a statement released by the U.S. Navy.

RIMPAC 2026 builds on the success of previous exercises by bringing together a coalition of allies and partners to demonstrate the flexibility and capability of naval forces.

The exercise covers a wide range of training activities, including amphibious operations, gunnery and missile exercises, anti-submarine warfare, air defense operations, military medicine, humanitarian aid and disaster response, anti-piracy operations, mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and rescue operations, the US Navy statement said.