Yulgok Yi I, Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin, and Lee Beom-seok Ships All Deployed
29 Countries Including Japan, Canada, and Australia Participate
Hanwha Ocean's 'Luxury Warship Trio,' constructed and delivered by the company, will play a key role as the main vessels of the Republic of Korea Navy in the multinational maritime exercise '2024 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).'
According to Hanwha Ocean on the 2nd, the warships participating as part of the Navy's RIMPAC Task Force in the RIMPAC exercise held around Hawaii from July 27 to August 2 include the Aegis destroyer KDX-III 'Ryu Seong-ryong,' KDX-II 'Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin,' and the 1800-ton Jang Bogo-II class submarine 'Lee Beom-seok.'
These vessels will conduct various training exercises during RIMPAC, including air defense operations such as firing the fleet air defense missile SM-2, as well as anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and free air defense and offense drills.
This year's RIMPAC is reported to involve 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, about 150 aircraft, and approximately 25,000 personnel from 29 countries including South Korea, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia.
RIMPAC is a multinational joint exercise hosted by the U.S. Navy to enhance the protection of maritime routes and joint response capabilities against threats among Pacific Rim countries, as well as to improve interoperability in combined operations.
Since its inception in 1971, RIMPAC has been held every two years, and this year marks the 29th exercise. South Korea first observed the exercise in 1988 as an 'observer' and has participated 18 times since its first participation in 1990.
In the 2018 exercise, where the Ryu Seong-ryong participated, the Republic of Korea Navy took on the role of maritime battle commander, successfully leading 10 vessels from eight countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Chile, India, and Indonesia, and successfully completing operations such as anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare to support the carrier strike group’s mission.
In this year’s exercise, recognizing such command capabilities, the Navy will perform the role of deputy commander of the Combined Naval Component Command, which commands all naval forces, for the first time.
Hanwha Ocean expects that the capabilities demonstrated by the 'Warship Trio' participating in this RIMPAC will greatly contribute not only to overseas warship exports but also to advancing the U.S. warship MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) business.
A Hanwha Ocean official stated, "The active participation of Ryu Seong-ryong, Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin, and Lee Beom-seok in RIMPAC will be an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the Republic of Korea Navy and Hanwha Ocean as a leading warship manufacturer," adding, "The company is fully prepared to ensure the success of the Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX) project, which will dramatically enhance South Korea’s naval capabilities."
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