KD LEKIR is the second RMN ship to participate in RIMPAC. RIMPAC is Rim of the Pacific, the name of the world’s largest international maritime exercise held in Hawaii, United States of America.
For 2022, 38 ships and four submarines from 26 navies took part in this exercise.
Unlike Malaysia’s debut in 2018, this year KD LEKIR launched an Exocet MM40 Block 2 Missile at a target as part of the exercise activity.
The target was Ex-USS RODNEY M. Davis (Oliver Hazard Perry Class Guided Missile Frigate). For the first time in history, the RMN conducted its missile firing outside of Malaysian waters, off the coast of Hawaii. KD LEKIR launched her missile on Tuesday afternoon and impacted the target minutes later.
RIMPAC provided an excellent platform for enhancing interoperability amongst the participating navies which included KD LEKIR. For the crew of KD LEKIR, I am absolutely sure that RIMPAC was a professionally enriching experience. Besides RIMPAC exercise activities, the few days that KD LEKIR had in port provided the opportunity for the crew to experience the Hawaian culture which is equally important.
Bravo Zulu, KD LEKIR!!
Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany
Chief of Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy