The Peruvian Navy is set to participate in the world's largest international maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, which will take place from June 26 to August 1 in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.
Peru has participated in RIMPAC since 1996, invited as an observer nation by the United States Navy (USN). Since then, two officers were sent to these maritime exercises, as well as in 1998 and 2000.
Later, during the Initial Planning Conference (IPC) of RIMPAC-02, participating nations approved the inclusion of the Peruvian Navy, being 2002 the first time Peru sent a combat unit to this competitive war simulation.
The 24th biennial event is intended to combat terrorism and piracy, and will involve around 47 vessels, six submarines and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.
Exercises will be conducted in the Hawaiian operating area and offshore ranges, which include the joint base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Bellows Air Force Station, Pohakulao Training Area and Schofield Barracks.
Some events will be held off the Southern California coast.
Hosted by the US Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC is aimed at demonstrating the collaborative defense efforts that are necessary to maintain peace and stability in the Pacific region.
As part of the drill, participating nations and forces will train on a wide range of capabilities, while demonstrating the intrinsic flexibility of maritime forces, which range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complicated combating.
The drill also involves amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air-defence exercises, as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance manoeuvres, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage missions.
According to naval-technology.com, navies from Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway will take part in these maritime exercises.
In addition, the navies of the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, People's Republic of China, Brunei, the UK and the US will also attend.
(END) INT/DLG/RMB
Published: 6/26/2014