RIMPAC

The roar of two F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets signaled the start of an assault on Kaneohe’s Pyramid Rock Beach. A multinational coalition was about to launch an amphibious landing in the fictional nation of Griffon. Their objective was to retake an airfield that had been captured by hostile forces in the wake of a natural disaster.

This week several members of the 25 nation coalition participated in a naval gunnery exercise off the coast of Oahu as part of the 2018 Rim of the Pacific. The Conversation’s Ryan Finnerty joined the crew of the USS Lake Erie as they went through live fire training.

Imagine: a devastating tsunami strikes the island of Oahu. Ports are blocked, bridges are damaged, and hospitals are overwhelmed. It’s a nightmare scenario that has been playing out on Ford Island this week. Service members from 10 nations are participating in a disaster response training exercise as part of the 2018 Rim of the Pacific war games.

The Rim of the Pacific military exercises in and around Hawai‘i will wrap up next week. The five weeks of RIMPAC make up the largest maritime exercise in the world—involving more than two-dozen countries this year. But another set of ocean maneuvers will soon get attention thousands of miles away. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Starting today, the largest international maritime exercise begins in Hawai‘i. The Rim of the Pacific, also known as RIMPAC, is in its 25th year since the military training exercise begin in 1971. Parts of it involve explosives and underwater sonar -- a point of concern for environmental groups. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

  The Rim of the Pacific military exercises in and around the waters of Hawai‘i are set to come to a close tomorrow. But while RIMPAC is the largest naval exercise in the world, the Pacific is an active region for others.  HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  Nearly two dozen countries are taking part in the semi-annual Rim of the Pacific military exercises around Hawaii over the next month. And this year, for the first time those participants include China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

 According to a weekend story in the Business Standard newspaper, India will be sending warships to Hawaii this summer. It will mark the first time the country will take part in the Rim of the Pacific exercises. While that event in June is the world’s largest naval exercise, the Asia Pacific has recently seen a number of smaller drills. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will be in Honolulu later this week. He’s stopping by on his way to Asia. Earlier this week in Washington, Hagel spoke with his Chinese counterpart about improving military ties between the two countries. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.