US Showcases Advanced Ship‑Destruction Capabilities in Summer Naval Drills

In Singapore, two multinational naval exercises held in the Pacific this summer provided the U.S. military an opportunity to demonstrate its expanding capability to destroy ships, including long‑range strikes launched from stealth bombers and the deployment of unmanned boats against target vessels.

These capabilities were showcased during the sinking exercise (SINKEX) portions of both Exercise Valiant Shield and the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) drills.

The first SINKEX occurred on June 27 during Valiant Shield, north of the Mariana Islands, when a U.S. Air Force B‑2 bomber released a stealth AGM‑158C Long‑Range Anti‑Ship Missile (LRASM) at the decommissioned amphibious transport dock Juneau, as reported in a news release.

This appeared to be the inaugural public launch of an LRASM from a B‑2, marking a notable advancement because the B‑2 is the sole operational stealth aircraft capable of carrying the missile internally. Its internal bomb bays preserve a low radar signature, allowing the U.S. military to execute stealthy, long‑range anti‑ship attacks that may be decisive in contested airspace across the expansive Pacific.

“The B‑2’s outstanding performance highlights the U.S. military’s dedication to adaptability and flexibility amid evolving security challenges,” said U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin Schneider in the release.

“By focusing on counter‑maritime strike operations, we can preserve a decisive advantage over adversaries, safeguard national interests, and sustain a free and open Pacific that underpins global security,” Schneider added.

According to a separate Navy announcement, Valiant Shield also involved training with the armed forces of Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, enhancing real‑world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detection, location, tracking, and engagement of maritime, aerial, space, land, and cyber assets.

Two additional vessels were sunk during RIMPAC, which ran off the Hawaiian coast from June 24 to July 31 and included ships, submarines, and aircraft from thirty nations.

On July 17, the cruiser Mobile Bay and the helicopter assault ship Peleliu were sunk by a mix of submarine‑launched torpedoes and missiles, including LRASMs, Spike NLOS missiles, and Naval Strike Missiles (NSMs).

Rear Admiral Suzanne Bailey, deputy commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet and commander of the RIMPAC Combined Exercise Control Group, stated at a virtual press conference that these joint exercises are vital for cooperation with allies and partners.

“It is the ultimate test of our kill chain, requiring our forces to collaborate with allies to detect, track, target, and ultimately strike a vessel with live ordnance,” Bailey said. “This complex, multi‑domain effort offers the most realistic training experience possible.”

For the first time at RIMPAC, Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) were deployed, according to an exercise officer. A Pentagon video captured at least one USV surveying the heavily damaged hull of Peleliu before colliding with the target.

Although the video caption did not specify the USV type, Lt. Sarah Weinstein, commanding officer of USV Division 32, identified the vehicle as a GARC manufactured by Baltimore’s BlackSea Technologies in a subsequent social‑media post.

“Honored that USV Division 32 was given the chance to conduct the Navy’s inaugural GARC live‑fire during RIMPAC 2026,” Weinstein wrote. “It was amazing to see my team execute with precision, and we were delighted to offer a view of the former USS Peleliu that is rarely captured in a SINKEX.”

USV Division 32 is among the Navy’s newest units, formed in January as one of three dedicated USV divisions responsible for operating and sustaining these platforms. The Navy has previously employed USVs in combat, with three Saronic Corsair drones attacking a small Iranian submarine undergoing maintenance at Bandar Abbas on July 13.

Source link