Twenty-six nations, 38 surface ships, four submarines, nine national land forces, more than 30 unmanned systems, approximately 170 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel are currently taking part in RIMPAC 2022, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California, from June 29 to Aug. 4. This is the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
According to the Royal Malaysian Navy, the event marked the first time a RMN ship conducted a missile firing outside of Malaysian waters. The corvette previously fired a similar missile (MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 2) in May 2022.
The firing was witnessed by the Chief of the RMN; Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza bin Mohd Sany and Deputy Commander of the Western Fleet; First Admiral Farizal Myeor at the K. Mark Takai Pacific Warfighting Center on Ford Island, Hawaii.
For this SINKEX, the target was the former USS Rodney M. Davis, a Oliver Hazard Perry (OHP) class frigate.
According to the U.S. Navy, Units from Australia, Canada, and the U.S. also participated in the SINKEX to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against a surface target at sea.
Live-fire events provide realistic training that refine partner nations’ abilities to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations such as precision and long-range strike capabilities.
RIMPAC 2022 press release
The Royal Malaysian Navy shared the following statement by Admiral Reza, the Chief of the RMN:
7000 Nautical Miles Away From Home and… Bullseye!
KD LEKIR is the second RMN ship to participate in RIMPAC. RIMPAC is Rim of the Pacific, the name of the world’s largest international maritime exercise held in Hawaii, United States of America. For 2022, 38 ships and four submarines from 26 navies took part in this exercise. Unlike Malaysia’s debut in 2018, this year KD LEKIR launched an Exocet MM40 Block 2 Missile at a target as part of the exercise activity.The target was Ex-USS RODNEY M. Davis (Oliver Hazard Perry Class Guided
Missile Frigate). For the first time in history, the RMN conducted its missile firing outside of Malaysian waters, off the coast of Hawaii. KD LEKIR launched her missile on Tuesday afternoon and impacted the target minutes later.RIMPAC provided an excellent platform for enhancing interoperability amongst the participating navies which included KD LEKIR. For the crew of KD LEKIR, I am absolutely sure that RIMPAC was a professionally enriching experience. Besides RIMPAC exercise activities, the few days that KD LEKIR had in port provided the opportunity for the crew to experience the Hawaian culture, which is equally important.
Bravo Zulu, KD LEKIR!!
Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza bin Mohd Sany, Chief of Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy
