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Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii — U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine forces plan to showcase new undersea warfare training during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, emphasizing advanced unmanned undersea vehicles and precision long-range fires designed to sharpen capabilities in contested waters.
The command will integrate unmanned systems to expand the reach and persistence of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The UUVs will simulate autonomous operations in denied areas, feeding targeting data and improving detection and tracking of potential threats. The approach is intended to use unmanned platforms as force multipliers so crewed submarines can operate with greater stealth, lethality and efficiency, while deepening interoperability with allies and partners across the Pacific.
Submarines participating in the exercise are scheduled to conduct precision engagements using UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles, demonstrating the ability to strike surface targets from standoff distances while shielding critical assets. Incorporating submarine-launched fires into the broader targeting process is aimed at holding surface combatants at risk, denying sea control and opening windows for follow-on strikes in joint and combined operations.
RIMPAC 2026 is structured to strengthen the undersea force’s ability to operate independently or as part of the U.S. Joint Force alongside allies and partners. Pairing emerging UUV systems with existing precision-strike capabilities, and reinforcing tactical integration and communication with undersea warfare counterparts, is described as essential to preserving a combined advantage below the surface.
Exercise organizers frame the event as a proving ground for a unified undersea warfare partnership supporting a free, open and secure Pacific.
Thirty nations, more than 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, over 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in and around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24 to July 31. The series, which began in 1971, is in its 30th iteration and is designed to provide training while building cooperative relationships viewed as critical to safeguarding sea lanes and global maritime security.
