During Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) units will use realistic at-sea training scenarios to demonstrate unique capabilities in order to maximize advantage in the undersea domain. This year’s exercise will highlight two critical investments that are reshaping how COMSUBPAC units train to fight and win in contested maritime environments: advanced unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and long-range fires.
COMSUBPAC units will integrate with cutting-edge UUV capabilities to extend the reach and persistence of undersea intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). These platforms will simulate operating autonomously in denied areas, providing critical targeting data and enhancing our ability to detect, track, and hold adversary forces at risk. This demonstration leverages unmanned systems as force multipliers, enabling manned platforms to operate with greater stealth, lethality, and efficiency. COMSUBPAC is committed to developing UUV capabilities with allies and partners to increase interoperability and to deter aggression throughout the Pacific.
In addition, COMSUBPAC submarines are scheduled to conduct precision long-range fires during RIMPAC 26 using UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles. This demonstrates the ability of submarines to deliver lethal effects against surface threats from standoff ranges, while protecting critical assets. This capability directly supports joint and combined operations by holding adversary surface combatants at risk, denying sea control, and creating windows of opportunity for follow-on strikes. The integration of submarine-launched fires in the broader targeting cycle reinforces the critical role of the undersea domain in multi-domain operations.
RIMPAC 2026 will bolster the ability of undersea forces to operate independently or as an integrated component of the U.S. Joint Force and in coordination with allies and partners. Successfully integrating emerging UUV systems with existing precision strike capabilities and strengthening tactical integration and communication with our undersea warfare (USW) counterparts preserves our combined decisive advantage in the undersea domain.
Our shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Pacific depends on our ability to operate seamlessly as a unified USW force, and RIMPAC 26 is the proving ground for that partnership.
Thirty-one nations, over 30 surface ships, 5 submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971.