Australia, Japan and the U.S. naval assets conduct trilateral passage en route to RIMPAC

Australia, Japan and the United States have conducted a trilateral passage in the Philippine Sea en route to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in Hawaii, Royal Australian Navy announced.

The Australian Defence Force Joint Task Group was joined in the Philippine Sea by the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam and guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin, and Japan’s Akizuki Class destroyer JS Teruzuki.

The deployment demonstrates Australia’s enduring commitment to enhancing security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and increasing the capability and interoperability of the Australian Defence Force.

The three days of activities included replenishments at sea, aviation operations, maritime manoeuvres and communications drills.

Commander of the Australian Joint Task Group, Commodore Michael Harris, said the opportunity to work alongside Japan and the United States was invaluable.

“The combined activities between our navies demonstrates a high degree of interoperability and capability between Australia, Japan and the United States,” Commodore Harris said.

HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius left Darwin on July 5 to begin a regional deployment to South East Asia and Hawaii.

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