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| Indian Navy Team along with P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti Submarine Aircraft (LRMRASW) in Hawaii, Pearl Harbour |
Indian Navy’s indigenous Frigate INS Satpura and P8I maritime patrol aircraft are all set to participate in world’s largest international maritime exercise Rim of the Pacific exercise, also known as ‘RIMPAC’.
While INS Satpura reached Hawaii on 27 June 2022, the P8I aircraft arrived on 2nd July at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, where one of the largest multilateral naval exercises will take place. The sea phase of exercise will start from 12th July and it will end with the closing ceremony on 4 August.
The US Navy led biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2022 spans over six weeks of intense operations and training. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability and to build trust among Navies of friendly foreign countries.
The harbour phase of the exercise witnessed the participation in multiple symposiums, exercise planning discussions and sports competitions. Further, the crew also visited the historic museum ship USS Missouri and paid homage to fallen soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during World War II at USS Arizona Memorial.
What RIMPAC brings for India?
As a part of the exercise, INS Satpura and one P8I maritime patrol aircraft will participate among Navies of friendly foreign countries. Notably, 28 nations, 38 warships, 09 land forces, 31 unmanned systems, 170 aircraft and over 25,000 personnel are participating in the multi-dimensional maritime exercise.
It is pertinent to note that the exercise brings the much needed trust and coordination among navies of friendly nations. Indian Navy’s P8I LRMRASW aircraft arrived at AFB Hickam, Joint Base Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, USA to participate in the 28th edition of the biennial Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC-22).
The P8I Detachment led by Commander Puneet Dabas was received by Wing Commander Matt Stuckless (RAAF), Head of Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) operations from Hickam airfield.
Importantly, the P8I will be participating in coordinated multinational, multiplatform advanced Anti Submarine Warfare operations along with 20 MPRAs from seven participating nations.
The easternmost deployed Indian Naval warship, INS Satpura is presently about 7,000 Nautical Miles from her base port Visakhapatnam. As part of its long-range operational deployment, INS Satpura is in the Pacific Ocean on her passage to participate in RIMPAC-22.
Earlier on June 15, INS Satpura conducted a special Yoga Protocol at Guam Harbour, USA.
Apart from the ship’s crew, personnel from other foreign Naval Warships in harbor and personnel of Indian origin at Guam were also invited. Officers and sailors from the US, Singapore, and Philippines Navy participated in the Yoga protocol.
INS Satpura is an indigenously designed and built 6,000-tonne guided missile stealth frigate equipped to seek and destroy adversaries in air, surface, and underwater. A frontline unit of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, INS Satpura has been tasked with a long-range operational deployment in the 75th year of India’s Independence.
