U.S. joint forces and allies conduct a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) of the decommissioned USS Juneau (LPD 10) in support of VALIANT SHIELD 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 27, 2026. The exercise targeted the former Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Juneau, which saw action in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm before decommissioning in 2008, more than 200 nautical miles off the coast of Guam. Air, surface and subsurface assets conducted coordinated strikes, allowing crews to sharpen critical skills in weapons employment and target engagement under realistic conditions that no simulator can fully replicate.
Participating allied and partner nations included Japan and New Zealand, with...
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii â After 10 days of rigorous multi-domain training, the 11th iteration and 20-year anniversary of Exercise Valiant Shield came to a close July 1, 2026, having successfully integrated combined, joint and multilateral operations across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.
