The long-standing team making of the Pacific Allied Forces bi-annual “Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)” 2020 concluded on Monday. It is the world’s largest preeminent international maritime warfare exercise that has been held every two years since 1971. A critical maritime coalition exercise administered by US Indo-Pacific Command, whose mission is “free and open Pacific“ to enhance interoperability among the coalition armed forces in the Pacific Rim to align with its mission. Typically held biannually during June and July on even-numbered years, this year’s exercise was moved to August and limited to just “at-sea” events with the critical allied partners due to the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.
Ominously, this year’s event has been executed in the shadow of the emergence of China as a major maritime adversary that has more warships than the United States and any other country in the world that continues to press toward destabilization of the Western Pacific and develop maritime dominance against the US and its Pacific Rim partners.
“Today, I look forward to discussing with you China’s malign behavior in the region under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party, including the intimidation and coercion of its neighbors, and its continued aggression in the East and South China Seas. We remain steadfast in our opposition to Beijing’s destabilizing activities in the region,” Secretary Mark Esper, at Ministerial Meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono, August 29, 2020.
Under the theme of Capable, Adaptive, Partners – Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and multiple aircraft participated in two weeks of Aegis-dominated maritime operations. US Pacific Fleet Commander ADM John Aquilino stated “The growing security environment in the Pacific demands now more than ever that like-minded nations join forces to build trust and collective strength to ensure a continuing free and open Pacific for all nations.”
Historically this year’s exercise Task Force One was commanded for the first time by a non-US female, Royal Australian Navy CAPT Phillipa Hay, Task Force Two was commanded by Republic of Korea (ROK) CAPT Kim, Sung-Hwan, and Task Force Three commanded by US RADM Blake Converse. Commands were operated under the direction of Commander US Third Fleet VADM Scott Conn and demonstrated integrated command across coalition partners.
Critical to the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities of the coalition forces, several US Aegis Partners included IAMD ships in the exercise. Secretary of Defense Esper recently stated Sept. 2nd “Aegis,” the shield of Zeus, is an apt name for the Navy’s Missile Defense System. American ingenuity will rise to meet any challenge.” In addition to US Aegis capable ships, USS LAKE ERIE (CG-70) who is BMD capable and USS CHUNG-HOON (DDG-93), Royal Australian Navy added RAN HOBART (DDG-39) who became the first of the RAN Aegis DDG’s to conduct a live-fire event with Standard Missile-2 against a realistic anti-ship missile drone target. Japan assigned JDS ASHIGARA (DDG-178), recently modernized with the latest Aegis IAMD capability to include BMD capability with Standard Missile-3, and ROK provided ROKS SEORE RYU SEONG-RYONG (DDG-993) also equipped with an air defense capable Aegis Weapon System.
RIMPAC 2020 concluded with a “live fire” Sink Exercise with multiple ships participating to prove the coalition force’s ability to target and destroy potential adversary maritime forces participating in “anti-access/anti-denial” operations. Included in the exercise was USS LAKE ERIE (CG-70) who fired an RGM-84 HARPOON anti-ship missile, USS CHUNG-HOON (DDG-93) who engaged with its 5-inch gun, Canada’s Halifax Class Frigate HMCS REGINA (FFH-334) recently modernized with upgraded combat systems that fired two HARPOONs, Brunei’s KDB DARULEHSAN (OPV-07) who engaged with an EXOCET Missile, multiple SH-60R helicopters who employed HELLFIRE missiles and finally a US Submarine who provided the final sinking with MK48 Torpedo.
This year’s exercise continues to improve US and Coalition operational capabilities in the Pacific Rim to provide an open and free Pacific. Continued joint exercises such as RIMPAC are essential to maintain the freedom of the Pacific against the growing aggressive behavior of China and Russia. Both antagonist nations are aggressively investing in building up their naval and air forces to challenge the US position in the region as well as bullying US coalition partners by threatening and or seizing islands and vast regions of maritime economic zones. Rimming the Pacific with continued cooperation in sharing combat system technologies such as Aegis, integration of Command and Control capabilities, expansion of integrated missile defense among coalition partners is a critical element of US its coalition partners National Security and economic health.
For all that RIMPAC is, and for all that was demonstrated this year, RIMPAC has always been much, much more. For what was revealed, there was much more that was not.
Considering the art and science of Grand Strategic Design, RIMPAC is about Power — the Power of the Sea and the Maritime space; the Power of like-minded Allies and Partners; the Power of Deterrence Theory; and the Power of Trust, Freedom, Openness, and Liberty. RIMPAC represents the intersection of our common Interests, Values, and Security — on the world stage it remains renowned, unique, and special!
