Major Pacific Exercise Underway

RIMPAC 2010,the world's largest multinational maritime exercise,is now underway off the coast of Hawaii.The 22nd biennial exercise,which began in 1971,is hosted by the Navy's Pacific Fleet(PACFLT).Participating are 32 ships,5 submarines,170+ aircraft and 20,000 personnel from 14 countries,including Australia,Canada,Chile,Colombia,France,Indonesia,Japan,Malaysia,the Netherlands,Peru,South Korea,Singapore,Thailand and the US.
The theme of RIMPAC 2010 is "combined agility,synergy and support."Extending into July,it encompasses side-by-side training activities ranging from salvage operations,to interdiction and missile firing,culminating with a scenario phase.Admiral Patrick Walsh,PACFLT Commander,is leading RIMPAC 2010.