The P-8A is being used across anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance missions. The Navy said the aircraft helps commanders understand the maritime environment across thousands of miles of ocean.
“The P-8A’s value in a complex exercise like RIMPAC stems from its unique blend of range, endurance, speed and advanced multi-mission sensors,” said Lt. Elizabeth Millward, exercise planning officer for Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) 10 and CTF-172 maritime patrol planner. “Its ability to cover vast maritime areas and remain on station for extended periods makes it a persistent and powerful anti-submarine, anti-surface and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform.”
The U.S. Navy P-8A operates with several allied platforms during the exercise, including Japan’s P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Canada’s CP-140 Aurora. Australia is contributing P-8A Poseidon and E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, while the Republic of Korea is flying the P-8A and India is operating the P-8I.
“RIMPAC 2026 key themes are Partners, Integrated and Ready,” Millward said. “The exercise brings together a diverse array of naval surface, subsurface and air assets from numerous partner nations, allowing our crews to sharpen their expertise by working alongside multinational forces to detect and track submarines.”
The exercise focuses on integrating national patrol aircraft into a single operating structure rather than treating them as separate forces. That allows one aircraft to transfer responsibility for tracking a contact to another crew while maintaining continuous situational awareness.
“We practice seamless mission integration,” Millward said. “When a Canadian CP-140 is tracking an underwater contact, it can flawlessly hand off that responsibility to a crew from South Korea, Japan or any other CTF-172 crew, ensuring continuous pressure on the target.”
The Navy is also using RIMPAC to test multinational crewing and staff integration. In some cases, personnel from partner nations are flying together, showing how shared procedures can support complex maritime operations.
“This year, we are taking it a step further with multinational crews, where an American P-8A might fly with personnel from several partner nations,” Millward said. “This initiative proves that our training and procedures are so well aligned that our experts can integrate into any of our partners’ aircraft and successfully execute the mission.”
RIMPAC provides a training environment that is difficult to replicate during routine operations. Ships, submarines, aircraft and land forces from multiple nations create scenarios that test long-range surveillance, submarine tracking and tactical handoffs.
“The P-8A Poseidon and the entire maritime patrol and reconnaissance community are at the forefront of ensuring regional stability and security,” Millward said. “However, our greatest strength lies not just in our technology, but in our partnerships. Exercises like RIMPAC demonstrate that we are more effective when we operate together with our allies.”
RIMPAC 2026 includes 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft and more than 30,000 personnel. The exercise is being conducted in and around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24 to July 31.
