Naval vessel returns from Hawaii warfare exercise
KOTA KINABALU: Kapal Diraja (KD) Lekiu, of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), returned from Hawaii, the United States, after successfully completing the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise known as Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018.
Eastern Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob said the participation of KD Lekiu in the RIMPAC 2018 would enable the RMN to increase its military operation especially in maritime diplomatic.
“The exercise, which takes 22 days, has given our men lots of military exposures through multidimension training and spectrum warfare with other countries.
“Cooperation with other countries, who participated in the RIMPAC 2018, will also strengthen defence diplomacy, thereby enhancing maritime security on the Pacific region,” he said after welcoming back KD Lekiu and its crew members at the Sepanggar Naval Base in Sepanggar on August 24.
Meanwhile, KD Lekiu Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Suhaimi Jumahat said, all series of training including live firing anti-ship missile and submarine training were successfully conducted through collaboration between 25 countries.
“The experience and challenges during the exercise can be applied in everyday operation here in Malaysia.
“We were also taught the appropriate communication procedure with other countries and we believed participating in this exercise is a smart investment made by the Malaysian Government,” he said.
Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, was first held in 1971 involving forces from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US).
The 26th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2018 was held in and around Hawaii Island and Southern California from June 27 until August 2.
A total of 27 countries participated in the exercise that includes 47 warships, five submarines, 18 Arm Forces, 29 Maritime Patrol vessels, 200 fighter jets and helicopters and 25,000 military personnel.