RIMPAC 2026: Indian Navy’s P-81 Poseidon Lands in Hawaii, Reinforcing Indo-Pacific Ties
Indian Navy’s P-81 Poseidon Lands in Hawaii. (Image courtesy: X/@indiannavy)
New Delhi: An Indian Navy P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft has landed in Hawaii on Friday to take part in this year’s “Rim of Pacific” (Rimpac) exercise. Rimpac 2026 will witness a monthlong series of complex maritime operations aimed at enhance interoperability and promoting collective maritime security.
Scheduled from July 1 to July 31, Rimpac 2026 includes approximately 30,000 troops from allied and partner nations, making it the 30th edition of the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise.
The Navy announced that this year’s exercise would hold great significance for both nations in strengthening the “Bridges of Friendship” between India and the US. Captain Vivek Madhwal, Indian Navy spokesperson, stated that the exercise will enable both countries to develop their interoperability between their navies further, to enhance their maritime domain awareness, and deepen their operational cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
The P-8I Poseidon is India’s top quality long-range patrol aircraft used for maritime aerial reconnaissance, intelligence work, etc. It is also important in terms of providing anti-submarine warfare capabilities. All of these reasons show how much the Indian Navy is growing as a participant in global maritime operations and in terms of working with other countries to provide security in their region.
The Navy has continued to become more involved in high-end multinational naval exercises throughout 2022 and 2023. Earlier this year, the Indian Navy participated in the Sea Dragon 2026 naval exercise that took place in Guam.
India is not new to participating in Rimpac. The Navy was also part of Rimpac 2024, where it deployed both the P-8I aircraft and the stealth frigate INS Shivalik. Thus, it can be said that Rimpac 2026 will definitely be more of an extension of India’s prior relationship than a new experience.
What is RIMPAC?
Rimpac means “Rim of the Pacific” exercise is conducted every two years by the US, through its United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), and is the world’s premier multinational maritime military exercise. First held in 1971, Rimpac provides participating nations with the opportunity to work together to improve joint readiness through realistic training across a wide variety of naval operations.
Rimpac 2026 will include many different types of training, ranging from anti-submarine warfare and air defence to amphibious operations, live-firing gunnery and missile procedures, providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief, counter-piracy operations, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.
India’s continued participation in Rimpac demonstrates India’s emphasis on cooperative maritime security and its strategic vision for a secure, stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
