RAF participating in major Pacific training exercise

The Royal Air Force has deployed aircraft and personnel to the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) training exercise, a multinational maritime exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

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The Royal Air Force has deployed aircraft and personnel to the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) training exercise, a multinational maritime exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands and representing the largest of its kind in the region.

This year’s exercise is the 24th in the series that commenced in 1971, with 22 nations,49 surface ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participating.

The RAF has sent two Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A) maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth to Honolulu’s Hickam Air Force Base, a 7,000 nautical mile journey necessitating a refuelling stop in Goose Bay, Canada. “As the first global exercise for RAF Poseidon, RIMPAC will be a good test of our ability to deploy at long range and then operate with allies and partner nations in a challenging and unfamiliar environment,” explained Wing Commander Jim Henderson, Detachment Commander.

Equipped with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare, the multi-role maritime patrol aircraft is also optimised for surveillance and search and rescue (SAR) missions.

Participation in RIMPAC represents the longest and furthest range exercise to date for the nine-strong RAF Poseidon Force, and also a “reflection of how far we’ve come since we received our first aircraft four years ago,” reflected Henderson.

The multinational collaborative exercise is scheduled to run until 1 August. Alongside Poseidon aircraft from six nations joining the training, other maritime patrol aircraft from Japan and Canada will also be involved.

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