New Delhi: Indian multi-role stealth frigate INS Shivalik has reached Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest naval exercise. After completing JIMEX 24, a bilateral exercise with Japan, INS Shivalik sailed into Pearl Harbor on Thursday.
RIMPAC 2024, spanning over six weeks, is designed to enhance interoperability and build trust among navies of friendly nations. The harbor phase from June 27 to July 7 includes multiple symposiums, exercise planning discussions, sports competitions, and reciprocal deck visits. The sea phase will feature basic and advanced level integration exercises, culminating in a large force tactical exercise. Participants include an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group, submarines, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and special forces from multinational navies.
Led by the US Navy, approximately 29 countries are participating in this year’s exercise. RIMPAC offers a unique training opportunity while fostering cooperative relationships among the navies, crucial for ensuring the safety of sea lanes and the security of the world’s oceans.
INS Shivalik’s participation, 9000 nautical miles from the Indian coast, demonstrates the Indian Navy’s capability to operate globally. The 6000-tonne guided missile stealth frigate is indigenously designed and built, highlighting India’s advanced naval engineering.