KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Island residents might hear low-flying planes or see naval vessels off the coast when the multinational Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise kicks off June 27.
Some 26 nations, 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 military personnel are expected to participate in the biennial exercise conducted through Aug. 2 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
RIMPAC, which began in 1971, is the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
Participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex war fighting.
This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, U.S. and Vietnam.
China, which participated in RIMPAC 2016 and 2014, had its invitation withdrawn May 23 by the Pentagon, which cited Beijing’s “continued militarization” of the South China Sea.