Philippine Coast Guard highlights EOD capabilities at ‘RIMPAC' 2026
BRP Gabriela Silang seen here departing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to commence the sea phase of the ‘RIMPAC' 2026 exercise. (US Navy)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has used its first participation in the ‘Rim of the Pacific' (RIMPAC) exercise in Hawaii to demonstrate capabilities extending beyond missions associated with white-hulled vessels.
Information released by the US Navy between 12 and 20 July indicates that the PCG participated in multinational explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) activities, in addition to a maritime security operation involving boarding exercises alongside the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the Mexican Navy.
On 16 July, personnel from the PCG carried out an interdiction exercise with the cutter USCGC Kimball and the Mexican Navy offshore patrol vessel ARM Juárez .
The exercise included co-ordinated boarding drills and a subject matter expert exchange focused on maritime law-enforcement procedures and interoperability.
On the same day, PCG personnel participated in a multinational rigging and ordnance extraction exercise at Pearl Harbor.
In addition to the PCG, the activity brought together EOD specialists from the US Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Peruvian Navy, the Mexican Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Before the rigging and ordnance extraction exercise, PCG personnel had taken part in shore-based EOD training conducted ahead of the seagoing phase of ‘RIMPAC'.
On 2 July, PCG personnel participated in a multinational EOD training activity at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii. On 13 July, they joined a multinational helicopter rope suspension techniques training event at Bellows Air Force Station.
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