Japanese Destroyer JS Ashigara Conducts SM-2 Missile Firing Exercise
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Atago class guided missile destroyer JS Ashigara (DDG-178) has conducted Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) firing exercise on August 20.
The firing was conducted in waters around Hawaiian Islands during the ongoing Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2020 (RIMPAC), hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
20 AUG (JST), JS ASHIGARA conducted standard missiles, SM-2 firing exercise in the water around Hawaii islands, at the RIMPAC2020, hosted by U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The camera captured the great moments when the SM-2 was fired !!#RIMPAC2020 #RIMPAC pic.twitter.com/OmCGFgWTMr— Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (@jmsdf_pao_eng) August 21, 2020
This year’s iteration of the biennial RIMPAC exercise began on August 17 and is expected to last until August 31. The exercise is an at-sea-only event due to the current COVID-19 crisis. Ten nations, 22 surface ships, one submarine, multiple aircraft, and approximately 5,300 personnel are participating in the exercise.
RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s interconnected oceans. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2020 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” Participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. The realistic and relevant training syllabus includes multinational anti-submarine warfare, maritime intercept operations, and live-fire training events, among other cooperative training opportunities.
RIMPAC 2020 contributes to the increased lethality, resiliency, and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict. Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Exercise RIMPAC 2020 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, Vice Adm. Scott D. Conn, and will include forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.