50-member Lankan Navy squad take part in mega US military exercise

A 50-member Sri Lanka Navy contingent is taking part in the 'Rim of the Pacific' 2022 (RIMPAC 2022) naval exercises in and around Hawaii and Southern California, USA.

Navies of 26 countries are also participating in the world's largest international martime warfare exercises.

The largest contingent is from the Republic of Korea ( ROK), which sent three ships and one submarine, followed by the Royal Australian Navy, with three ships. Canada, Japan and Mexico sent two ships each, while Chile, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines and Singapore sent a ship each. Several of the ships included embarked helicopters for the biennial drills.

Though no vessels of the SLN are participating, the contingent comprises 48 Marines and two Special Boat Squadron personnel. RIMPAC 2022, conducted for the 28th time began last Wednesday (June 29) and will go on till August 4. It is hosted by the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

The Sri Lankan contingent left the island in early June for Australia on a specially chartered flight arranged by the Royal Australian Air Force. Comprising both officers and sailors, the group partnered with the crew of HMAS Canberra of the Royal Australian Navy for a two weeks’ acclimatisation programme before leaving for the US on the same vessel.

This is the second time the SL Navy is taking part in the exercise.

The US Navy stated that 26 nations, 38 surface ships, four submarines, nine national land forces, more than 30 unmanned systems, about 170 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel would train and operate in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California during the naval exercise.

“This year's exercise programme will include gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defence exercises, as well as amphibious, counter- piracy, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, diving and salvage operations. Additionally, the exercise will also introduce space and cyber operations for all partner nations,” the US Navy said in a media statement.