Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) features ships and aircraft from nearly two dozen national navies participating in drills off the Hawaiian coast to foster better communication with one another while honing antisubmarine, surface warfare and other naval crafts. Senior Defense Editor Michael Fabey reported and took photographs on a number of participating ships and aircraft during this year’s exercise.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
CNS Haikou
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task force ships fall in behind the country's advanced guided-missile destroyer CNS Haikou. Rimpac 2014 marked the first time the Asian giant was invited to participate in Rimpac.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
HMNZS Canterbury
New Zealand's L421 HMNZS Canterbury conducts drills during 2014 Rimpac exercises.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Liuzhou
PLAN frigate Liuzhou was one of the warships China sent to Hawaii.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
LCS Indianapolis
During Rimpac, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 2) Indianapolis honed its aviation operations. Sikorsky MH-60 helicopters play a major role in LCS operational concepts.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen
Norway used Rimpac to test the Navy Strike missile in a tropical climate aboard the frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Multinational
Rimpac featured ships from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and 21 other countries.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
CVN 76 USS Ronald Reagan
The aircraft carrier CVN 76 USS Ronald Reagan prepares for morning flight operations.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Maintenance
The high flight operations tempo during Rimpac also helps hone maintenance skills.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Hornet Flights
Rimpac is all about the exercises—pilots of Boeing F/A-18C Hornets used the drills to sharpen at-sea takeoffs and landings.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Tankers
Tankers were in the air constantly during Rimpac to help keep the nearly nonstop flight operations going.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Z-9 ASW Helicopter
A Chinese Z-9 ASW helicopter from the Chinese destroyer Haikou lands on the cruiser USS Port Royal as U.S. and PLAN forces trade officers during Rimpac.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
MH-60
An MH-60 tracks the wake of the LCS 2 USS Indianapolis during a Rimpac drill.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Carrier Onboard Delivery
A major part of Rimpac is moving sailors, officers and other personnel from one ship to another. The best way to do that for an aircraft carrier is through a carrier onboard delivery (COD) flight.
Credit: Michael Fabey/AW&ST
Aviation WeekSenior Defense Editor Michael Fabey reported on and took photographs of the world's largest maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific, conducted off the Hawaiian coast June 16-Aug. 1.
