Navy sends off contingent for RIMPAC drills in Hawaii

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday formally sent off Naval Task Group 84, the contingent aboard guided-missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), which will take part in this year’s “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) Exercise 2026 to be held in and around the waters of Hawaii from June 24 to July 31.
Send-off ceremonies took place at Naval Operating Base-Subic, Zambales, with Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta spearheading the event.
“This ceremony is important since our last ship deployment to RIMPAC dates back to 2022. As such, our return to this multinational activity highlights our commitment to becoming a ‘credible partner’ under our Sail Plan 2040 vision. We likewise strengthen maritime cooperation with partner nations and navies in order to continue advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the PN chief said.
Representing the PN at this year’s exercise is BRP Miguel Malvar, with a contingent of naval personnel who will take part in a series of professional exchanges and operational activities alongside naval forces from participating nations.
This year’s exercise, likewise, marks the inaugural participation of the Philippine Coast Guard in RIMPAC, which is deploying the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), highlighting strengthened interagency maritime cooperation and a more integrated Philippine representation in multinational maritime engagements.
RIMPAC is the world’s largest maritime exercise held biennially.
“I trust that every sailor and marine who will embark on this mission will demonstrate excellence and a forward-looking mindset in everything that you will do – epitomizing a new era of maritime capability for the Philippines,” Ezpeleta said.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said this year’s RIMPAC will bring 31 nations and will feature a multinational force of approximately 40 surface ships, fice submarines, 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel.
The exercise will cover a wide range of capabilities including amphibious operations, gunnery and missile proficiency, anti-submarine warfare, air defense exercises, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, counter-piracy, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations. (PNA)