Exercise RIMPAC RIMPAC , the Rim of the Pacific Exercise , is the world ' s largest international maritime warfare exercise . RIMPAC is held biennially during June and July of even - numbered years in Honolulu , Hawaii . It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy ' s Pacific Fleet , headquartered near Salt Lake , in conjunction with the Marine Corps , the Coast Guard , and Hawaii National Guard forces under the leadership of the Governor of Hawaii . The U . S . invites allied military forces from the Pacific Rim nations to participate . With RIMPAC the United States Pacific Command seeks to enhance interoperability between Pacific Rim armed forces , as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations . The Pacific faces several potential conflicts which the United States Department of Defense believes may require naval force - on - force engagements . These include the possibility of China invading Taiwan in the event of its declaration of independence , and North Korean aggression towards South Korea , the United States , and Japan . Participants . The first RIMPAC , held in 1971 , involved forces from Australia , Canada , New Zealand , the United Kingdom ( UK ) , and the United States ( US ) . Australia , Canada , and the US have participated in every RIMPAC . Other regular participants are Chile , Colombia , France , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , the Netherlands , Peru , Singapore , South Korea , Thailand , and the UK . The Royal New Zealand Navy was frequently involved until the 1985 ANZUS nuclear ships dispute . Several observer nations are usually invited , including China , Ecuador , India , Mexico , the Philippines , and Russia , who became an active participant for the first time in 2012 . While not contributing any ships , observer nations are involved in RIMPAC at the strategic level and use the opportunity to prepare for possible full participation in the future . The United States contingent has included an aircraft carrier strike group , submarine s , up to a hundred aircraft and 20 , 000 Sailors , Marines , Coast Guardsmen and their respective officers . The size of the exercises varies from year to year . RIMPAC 2004 . RIMPAC 2004 included 40 ships , seven submarines , 100 aircraft , and nearly 18 , 000 military personnel from seven navies , including Canada , Australia , Japan , South Korea , Chile , and the United Kingdom . It focused on multinational training while building trust and cooperation among the participating naval partners . Rear Admiral Patrick M . Walsh , Commander Carrier Group Seven , served as Multinational Task Force Commander aboard the . RIMPAC 2010 . On 23 June 2010 , U . S . Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Patrick M . Walsh and Combined Task Force commander Vice Admiral Richard W . Hunt announced the official start of the month - long 2010 Rim of the Pacific ( RIMPAC ) exercise during a press conference held in Lockwood Hall at Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam . RIMPAC 2010 was the 22nd exercise in the series that originated in 1971 . The exercise was designed to increase the operational and tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of maritime operations by enhancing military - to - military relations and interoperability . Thirty - two ships , five submarines , over 170 aircraft , and 20 , 000 personnel participated in RIMPAC 2010 , the world ' s largest multi - national maritime exercise . RIMPAC 2010 brought together units and personnel from Australia , Canada , Chile , Colombia , France , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Netherlands , Peru , South Korea , Singapore , Thailand , and the United States . During the exercise , participating countries conducted gunnery , missile , anti - submarine , and air defense exercises , as well as maritime interdiction and vessel boarding , explosive ordnance disposal , diving and salvage operations , mine clearance operations , and an amphibious landing . RIMPAC 2010 will also emphasize littoral operations with ships like the U . S . littoral combat ship , the French frigate " Prairial " , and the Singaporean Formidable class frigate RSS " Supreme " . On 28 June 2010 , the aircraft carrier " Ronald Reagan " arrived in Pearl Harbor to participate in RIMPAC 2010 . " Ronald Reagan " was the only aircraft carrier to participate in this exercise . During the in - port phase of RIMPAC , officers and crew of the 14 participating navies interact in receptions , meetings , and athletic events . The " Reagan " completed its Tailored Ships Training Availability ( TSTA ) exercises prior to RIMPAC 2010 . During 6 – 7 July 2010 , 32 naval vessels and five submarines from seven nations departed Pearl Harbor to participate in Phase II of RIMPAC 2010 . This phase included live fire gunnery and missile exercises ; maritime interdiction and vessel boardings ; and anti - surface warfare , undersea warfare , naval maneuvers and air defense exercises . Participants also collaborated in explosive ordnance disposal ; diving and salvage operations ; mine clearance operations ; and amphibious operations . Phase III involved scenario - driven exercises designed to further strengthen maritime skills and capabilities . During RIMPAC 2010 , over 40 naval personnel from Singapore , Japan , Australia , Chile , Peru , and Colombia managed combat exercises while serving aboard the " Ronald Reagan " ( pictured ) . This involved managing anti - submarine warfare and surface warfare for Carrier Strike Group Seven and the entire RIMPAC force , including the use of radar , charts , and high - tech devices to monitor , chart , and communicate with other ships and submarines . Tactical action officers from the different countries coordinated the overall operational picture and provided direction and administration to the enlisted personnel involved in the Sea Combat Control ( SCC ) activities . Also , " Reagan " conducted a live Rolling Airframe Missile ( RAM ) launch , firing at a simulated target , the first since 2007 . On 30 July 2010 , RIMPAC 2010 concluded with a press conference held at Merry Point Landing on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam . A reception for over 1 , 500 participants , distinguished visitors and special guests was held in the hangar bays of the carrier " Reagan " . During RIMPAC 2010 , participating countries conducted three sinking exercises ( SINKEX ) involving 140 discrete live - fire events that included 30 surface - to - air engagements , 40 air - to - air missile engagements , 12 surface - to - surface engagements , 76 laser - guided bomb s , and more than 1 , 000 rounds of naval gunfire from 20 surface combatant warships . Units flew more than 3100 air sorties , completed numerous maritime interdiction and vessel boardings , explosive ordnance disposal , diving and salvage operations and mine clearance operations and 10 major experiments , with the major one being the U . S . Marine Corps Enhanced Company Operations experiment . Ground forces from five countries completed five amphibious landings , including nine helicopter - borne amphibious landings and 560 troops from ship - to - shore mission . In all , 960 different training events were schedule and 96 percent were completed in all areas of the Hawaiian operations area , encompassing Kāneʻohe Bay , Bellows Air Force Station , the Pacific Missile Range Facility , and the Pohakuloa Training Area . RIMPAC 2012 . RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series and started on 29 June 2012 . 42 ships , including the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz ( CVN 68 ) and other elements of Carrier Strike Group 11 , six submarines , 200 aircraft and 25 , 000 personnel from 22 nations took part in Hawaii . The exercise involved surface combatants from the U . S . , Canada , Japan , Australia , South Korea and Chile . The US Navy demonstrated its green fleet of biofuel - driven vessels for which it purchased 450 , 000 gallons of biofuel , the largest single purchase of biofuel in history at a cost of $ 12m . On July 17 , USNS Henry J . Kaiser ( T - AO - 187 ) delivered 900 , 000 gallons of biofuel and traditional petroleum - based fuel to the " Nimitz " ' s Carrier Strike Group 11 . The exercises included units or personnel from Australia , Canada , Chile , Colombia , France , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Mexico , Netherlands , New Zealand , Norway , Peru , the Republic of Korea , the Republic of the Philippines , Russia , Singapore , Thailand , Tonga , the United Kingdom and the United States . Russia participated actively for the first time , as did the Philippines , reportedly due to the escalating tensions with the People ' s Republic of China over ownership of Scarborough Shoal . RIMPAC 2012 marked the debut of the U . S . Navy ' s new P - 8A Poseidon land - based anti - submarine patrol aircraft , with two P - 8As participating in 24 RIMPAC exercise scenarios as part of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One ( VX - 1 ) based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay . RIMPAC 2012 was the setting for the 2012 film " Battleship " . Experiments . RIMPAC experiments have included a range of sectors important to international militaries . In RIMPAC 2000 , for example , the first of the Strong Angel international humanitarian response demonstrations was held on the Big Island of Hawai ' i near Pu ' u Pa ' a . That series continued with events in the summer of 2004 and again in 2006 . Participants have also conducted exercises in ship - sinking and torpedo usage . They also have tested new naval vessels and technology . For example in 2004 , the United States Navy tested the Australian built HSV - 2 Swift , a 321 - foot experimental wave - piercing catamaran that draws only 11 feet of water , has a top speed of almost 50 knots , and can transport 605 tons of cargo .