Canadian Armed Forces successfully completes RIMPAC 2016

News Release

August 4, 2016 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces successfully completed Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 today.

Close to 1500 Canadian sailors, soldiers and airmen and airwomen successfully used Royal Canadian Navy vessels, Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft and Canadian Army equipment to integrate with 25,000 military personnel from 25 other nations.

Underscoring the RIMPAC 2016 theme of “capable, adaptive partners”, the Canadian Armed Forces demonstrated the flexibility of its maritime, land and air forces to meet regional and global challenges for mutual benefit.

Quotes

“RIMPAC 2016 was a tremendous exercise. It provided the Canadian Armed Forces with a rare opportunity to work with so many other nations and practice skills that we will use in disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and - if necessary - military operations in a multinational coalition. I am proud of our contribution to RIMPAC and what our personnel achieved together. We have reinforced that Canada is a Pacific nation and have demonstrated that we are, indeed capable, adaptive partners in Asia-Pacific security.”

Rear Admiral Scott Bishop, RIMPAC 2016 Deputy Commander Combined Task Force

“RIMPAC 2016 marks the first time the Royal Canadian Air Force deployed an Air Task Force composed of elements from every one of Canada’s air combat capabilities. It was an honour and a privilege to serve as the RIMPAC 2016 Combined Forces Air ComponentCommander, and to see our airwomen and airmen integrate seamlessly into the multinational contingent.”

Brigadier-General Blaise Frawley, RIMPAC 2016 Combined Forces Air Component Commander

Quick Facts

Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in this year’s RIMPAC from June 30 to August 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise. It provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.
RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. It is held every two years, lead by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and executed by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet.
The Royal Canadian Navy participated in a wide scope of training scenarios such as anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction operations, mine sweeping and neutralization, command and control and communication operations, ship manoeuvering, standard naval drills (including firefighting, man overboard exercises, etc), weapons firings, and sea combat. Other examples include replenishments at sea, anti-submarine warfare, submarine operations, and multi-national communications.
The Canadian Army was part of an amphibious force integrated with the United States Marines and Chilean Army in Southern California. Multinational training events included complex live fire ranges, fast roping, aviation drills for a variety of airframes, helocasting, Modular Amphibious Egress Training, as well as participating in a non-combatant evacuation operation.
The Royal Canadian Air Force deployed one of its largest ever Air Task Forces, integrating all detachments to participate in training scenarios in maritime patrol, Humanitarian Disaster Relief Assistance, fighters, and coalition air-to-air refueling. Over the course of RIMPAC the RCAF conducted anti-submarine warfare operations, offensive and defensive air-to-air tactics, deck landing and joint and collective army training with the US Marine Corps in southern California, and live missile shoots including participation in the SINKEX – a targeting and live firing exercise to sink a decommissioned ship.

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