Aloha - alas for the last time - Twitter: Day 5 #RIMPAC2022. Official press conference, started with condolences to Japan for the tragic loss of former PM Abe. A thread about partners, carriers, unmanned surface combatants, and the brilliant HMAS Canberra. 
Partners as a narrative of operational effectiveness. Over the past few days senior commanders, officers, have all constantly pointed out the importance of developing partners interoperability. With 26 nations and more than 25k personnel that is a considerable task.
The press conference reinforced these points and seeing senior and flag officers from different nations with a Philippine and Korean warships in the background helped delivering the point, only somewhat let down by the comments and answers being provided only by USN hosts.
Absent Ukraine, Taiwan in the background. Adm Paparo was masterful in engaging with questions over Taiwan: he has a mission to prepare forces for all contingencies, and whilst vocabulary was measured and well chosen, the message was clear.
Compared to 2018 this feels different.
Compared to 2018 this feels different.
Three points struck me throughout the day:
A. Respect for sovereignty was a recurrent reference;
B. HADR, amphib and warfighting were the main operational sign posts;
C. Integration of multinational C2 was a major shared objective.
Main downside: no cookies today. Not one.
A. Respect for sovereignty was a recurrent reference;
B. HADR, amphib and warfighting were the main operational sign posts;
C. Integration of multinational C2 was a major shared objective.
Main downside: no cookies today. Not one.
Unmanned future? Not so fast. This is one of the real new novelty at this year’s RIMPAC. Testing the integration of manned/unmanned capabilities - with the first dedicated squadron collecting data to understand what kind of teaming is the way forwards.
Very modular assets.
Very modular assets.
USS Lincoln (CVN-72). Going on a carrier is always a special experience. It’s a statement of power, modernity, international standing, and of the complexity of modern societies. The CO - first female carrier CO - was genuinely engaging, and had one line which I very much enjoyed:
The next generation is far more resilient that usually credited for. She spoke at length of the deployment which has seen a number of challenges in testing new capabilities - not least F-35s.
The flight deck was packed with all sort of helos, fighters, EW platforms…
The flight deck was packed with all sort of helos, fighters, EW platforms…
Nothing really equals an American carrier. Plus the artwork on the helos was just witty.
That said. Nothing is as charming as a large amphib ship with a kangaroo on the funnel. HMAS Canberra is a fine platform. The air control tower in particular was incredibly well designed.
That said. Nothing is as charming as a large amphib ship with a kangaroo on the funnel. HMAS Canberra is a fine platform. The air control tower in particular was incredibly well designed.
In this respect, please note it’s position next to the bridge - very different to other rotary wing operating platforms, and the sky jump which doesn’t come with a coating for fixed wing ops.
And so my time at RIMPAC has come to an end. I have notes from meetings, interviews, and the additional activities that helped me understand this incredibly large military experience.
More will come out of this, but for now, I’ll just focus on getting ready to fly back. Thanks!
More will come out of this, but for now, I’ll just focus on getting ready to fly back. Thanks!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
