Chinese sailors aboard the People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyer Xi’an pose on the flight deck in route to RIMPAC 2016 after crossing the International Dateline. Xinhua Photo
The Chinese naval delegation to the Rim of the Pacific exercises barred at least some Japanese sailors from touring their ships and only reluctantly invited members of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force to a reception aboard a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship, USNI News has learned. Read More
USS Coronado (LCS 4), an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, launches the first over-the-horizon missile engagement using a Harpoon Block 1C missile. US Navy photo.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – The Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) has had an opportunity to work with Chinese ships and naval crews during the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise and develop an understanding with their counterparts ahead of the ship’s maiden deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet, which will almost certainly include spending time patrolling the South China Sea. Read More
The Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Vinogradov (DD-572) seen on July 17, 2016 off USS America. USNI News Photo
CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, the following story indicated the Russian Navy has never been invited to the Rim of the Pacific exercise series when in fact the Russian Navy was invited to RIMPAC 2012. The post has been amended to reflect the change.
ABOARD USS AMERICA, NEAR HAWAII — A Russian destroyer shadowed the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on July 16 and 17 during the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise, generally staying about one or two nautical miles away but at times coming as close as about 1,000 yards, USNI News observed. Read More
Vice President Joe Biden on July 14, 2016 speaking to sailors on USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). USNI News Photo
ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS JOHN C. STENNIS – Vice President Joe Biden thanked sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) for affirming U.S. presence and partnership with Asian allies during its seven-month Pacific deployment and denouncing Chinese territorial expansion. Read More
Undated photo of Russian spy ship Pribaltika (SSV-80). Sources confirmed the ship is operating off the coast of Hawaii.
Moscow has dispatched a specialized spy ship off the coast of Hawaii with the likely mission to monitor the U.S. Navy led Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise, USNI News has learned. Read More
A Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is launched from the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) during missile testing operations off the coast of Southern California in September 2014. US Navy photo.
This post has been updated to include additional information from Naval Sea Systems Command.
The Littoral Combat Ship program is poised to make big strides this year in its strike capability, both with over-the-horizon missiles and the shorter-range Longbow Hellfire missile. Read More
