The biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 exercise is formally under way in the Hawaiian Islands area to demonstrate the collaborative defence efforts required in maintaining peace and stability in the Pacific region.
US Pacific Fleet commander admiral Cecil Haney said that the exercise was designed to enhance the tactical capabilities of participating units in major maritime operations, and involved 40 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 22 nations.
Claimed to be the world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC promotes cooperation and interoperability, as well as focusing on ensuring the safety of the sea lanes and security of the world's oceans, according to Haney.
During the exercise, the US Navy will demonstrate for the first time its 'Great Green Fleet' approach with biofuel blends on a few surface warships and aircraft.
The RIMPAC 2012 exercise will see participation of navies from Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Peru.
Navies from South Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the UK and the US will also participate in the exercise.
RIMPAC 2012 is also expected to provide training opportunities for participating navies to bolster and sustain critical cooperative relationships to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security.
Scheduled to end on 3 August, RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971.
Image: US Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Cecil Haney at a press conference announcing start of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2012. Photo: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force photo by photographer PO1 Takahiro Ito/Released.