RIMPAC EXERCISE 2022

• The RIMPAC-22 exercise will be held in and close to the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California from 29th June to 4th August,
• 27 countries are participating in the current edition of the multi-dimensional exercise.
• It’s one of the largest biennial multilateral Naval Exercises, which is led by US.
• The RIMPAC started in 1971 as an annual exercise by the US, Australia, and Canada. But from 1974, maritime exercise became a biennial event.
• It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and building trust among Navies of friendly foreign countries.
• The theme of RIMPAC 2022 is ‘capable, adaptive, partners.
• India first participated in RIMPAC in 2014 when the indigenously built Shivalik class stealth frigate INS Sahyadri took part in the exercise.
• INS Sahyadri again represented the country in the 2018 edition of the event.
• In between, in 2016, INS Satpura joined the maritime exercise. Before 2014, the Indian Navy’s presence in the wargames was only as an observer for the 2006, 2010 and 2012 editions.
• In the current edition, Indian Navy’s INS Satpura and one P8I maritime patrol aircraft are participating in the exercise.
• P-8I is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft being manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy.
• It was designed to protect the coastline and territorial waters of India. It can conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (AsuW), intelligence, maritime patrol, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
• INS Satpura is an indigenously designed and built 6000-tonne guided missile stealth frigate equipped to seek and destroy adversaries in air, surface and underwater.
• A frontline unit of Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, INS Satpura is currently on an extended operational deployment in the 75th year of India’s Independence.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT