RSS Steadfast Demonstrates High-End Naval Warfare Capabilities

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast has participated in high-end naval warfare training alongside international partners during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 in the waters off Hawaii.

Hosted by the United States Navy, the biennial event marks the world’s largest international maritime exercise, with this 30th edition involving approximately 40 surface ships, 5 submarines, 15 national land forces, over 140 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel from 31 nations. During the exercise, held from 25 June to 1 August 2026 (Singapore Time), RSS Steadfast led a task unit comprising three other navy ships from the Philippines and the United States. Together, they executed a series of complex naval warfare serials across air, surface, and sub-surface domains, including manoeuvring drills and underway replenishment operations.

A key tactical execution during the maneuvers included the successful live firing of an Aster-15 surface-to-air missile by RSS Steadfast against a high-speed sea-skimming aerial drone simulating an inbound missile threat. Supporting overall exercise planning and execution, a dedicated team of 25 RSN personnel operated from shore command centres to coordinate operations alongside international counterparts.

Prior to arriving in Hawaii for Singapore’s tenth participation in RIMPAC since its inaugural involvement in 2008, RSS Steadfast completed an extensive transit sequence. The frigate conducted a passage exercise (PASSEX) with the Italian Navy before leading a Multinational Group Sail with ships from the Italian Navy, Philippines Navy, and Philippines Coast Guard from the East of the Philippines to Guam. The vessel then joined a second Multinational Group Sail led by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, alongside ships from the Republic of Korea Navy, Italian Navy, Philippines Navy, and Philippines Coast Guard, to complete the leg from Guam to Hawaii.

Parallel to combat training, the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Coordination Centre (RHCC) participated in a HADR exercise organised by the US PACOM Center for Excellence in Disaster Management (CFE-DM). Joined by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), World Food Programme (WFP), Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), and 11 other militaries, the effort served to strengthen multilateral response capabilities and operational interoperability between military and civilian organisations.

Highlighting the operational value of participating in the large-scale event, Commander 1st Flotilla, and Commander Task Group for Exercise RIMPAC 2026, Colonel (COL) Song Shaodong Carlin, said, “This year marks Singapore’s tenth time participating in Exercise RIMPAC. For a maritime nation like Singapore, where trade is closely tied to prosperity and survival, keeping these sea lines of communication secure is critical. The work we do together – whether through complex multilateral exercises, real-time information sharing, or responding to humanitarian crises – is what keeps these global arteries open.”