This year’s exercise saw expanded participation from partner and allied nations, with joint forces taking part in both sea and shore-based scenarios. Personnel ashore also practised integration across multiple warfare domains, demonstrating their ability to support warfighting units across mission areas.
“Pacific Vanguard provides a vital opportunity for the USS Higgins and her crew to hone our warfighting skills alongside our allies,” said Capt. Dave Huljack, Commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. “We’re committed to strengthening interoperability, interchangeability, and building mutual trust, which ensures that together, we can respond effectively to any challenge in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Participants carried out a missile exercise involving the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and the Takanami-class destroyer JS Suzunami (DD 114). The ships engaged two simulated targets in an integrated air and missile defence scenario, highlighting cooperation between allied navies.
Assets in Pacific Vanguard 2025 included the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182), replenishment ship JS Ōmi (AOE 426) and destroyer JS Suzunami (DD 114), the Republic of Korea Navy’s destroyer ROKS Wang Geon (DDH 978), and the U.S. Navy’s USS Higgins (DDG 76) alongside USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) and P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The exercises were conducted in designated land, air, and sea areas of the Mariana Islands, enabling safe training in tactics, joint operations, equipment use, and humanitarian missions. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, routinely operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
