USNI News Western Pacific Pulse: Aug. 7, 2026

The following is a summary of major ship movements and exercises in the Western Pacific over the last week.

In the South China Sea

Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), greets Jennifer Wicks McNamara, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, in the hangar bay during a scheduled port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, Aug. 3, 2026. US Navy photo Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is back in the South China Sea following a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, according to a post on the carrier’s social media page.

The George Washington Carrier Strike Group includes George Washington and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) and destroyers USS Shoup (DDG-86) and USS Benfold (DDG-65). Benfold did not accompany the CSG when it pulled into Da Nang on July 30.

In the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Northwest Pacific

Russian cruiser RFS Varyag (011) on Aug. 4, 2026. Japan Joint Staff Office photo The Russian Navy Pacific Fleet conducted large-scale drills in the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Northwest Pacific on Tuesday. The drills involved 13,000 personnel, 60 surface ships, submarines and support vessels, as well as 30 aircraft and unmanned systems.

“The main task is to check readiness of leadership of formations and units to control force groupings in their areas of responsibility and to address non-standard operational tasks. The practical part includes complex use of high-precision weapons, modern armament and military hardware. The exercises are to take place in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and federal executive bodies of the Russian Federation,” reads a Russian Ministry of Defense news release.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that naval minesweeping and search-and-strike groups, missile boat strike groups and a surface action group led by cruiser RFS Varyag (011) have begun deployments to exercise areas. The exercise, led by Russian Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Viktor Liina, is the Pacific Fleet’s primary operational and combat training event for 2026.

Russian corvettes RFS Sovershennyy (333) and RFS Gromkiy (335) on Aug. 4, 2026. Japan Joint Staff Office photo Japan tracked the surface group, led by Varyag, as it transited La Pérouse Strait, which separates Japan’s main island of Hokkaido from Russia’s Sakhalin Island, to head to the Sea of Okhotsk. The cruiser was accompanied by destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleyev and corvettes RFS Sovershennyy (333), RFS Gromkiy (335) and RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339).

The surface group was sighted traveling northeast 210 kilometers –131 miles – southwest of Rebun Island at 10 a.m. Tuesday. From Tuesday to Wednesday, the group sailed east through La Pérouse Strait to enter the Sea of Okhotsk while under surveillance from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force fast attack craft JS Kumataka (PG-827) and JMSDF P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft, according to a Japan Joint Staff Office release.

On Thursday, the Russian Pacific Fleet announced that, as part of the drills, corvette RFS Gremyashchy (337) fired a Kalibr cruise missile. The missile was launched from Avacha Bay, located on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula target at the Kura range in Kamchatka Krai. The firing took place under electronic jamming conditions. The target, located 1,300 kilometers – 808 miles – away was successfully hit, according to state media Tass, which also shared a video of the launch.

In Wonsan, North Korea

North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile at 5 p.m. Thursday from Wonsan, located on North Korea’s east coast, into the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“While our military has reinforced surveillance and vigilance in preparation for further launches, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are maintaining a state of full readiness by closely sharing intelligence regarding North Korean ballistic missiles,” the JCS said.

North Korea has not released any details of the launch.

U.S. Pacific Command issued the following statement on the launch: “We are aware of the missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region.”

At the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, South Korea

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, which is currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the unit deployment program, conduct live-fire first-person view attack drone training at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, South Korea, Aug. 5, 2026. US Marine Corps photo U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division successfully conducted the service’s first-ever series of live-fire first-person view (FPV) attack drone flights using the Neros Archer (FPV) attack drone on Wednesday in South Korea.

“This historic training series marks a significant milestone in force modernization, demonstrating the Marine Corps’ ability to rapidly field emerging technologies in the Western Pacific,” reads a Marine Corps news release.

In Sasebo, Japan

Sailors assigned to Naval Beach Unit 7 remove chains from U.S. Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, assigned to Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), during San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans’ (LPD-18) arrival to White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. US Navy photo Amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18) returned to its homeport of Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) on Monday, according to Japanese ship spotter photographs.

New Orleans previously pulled into Okinawa on July 29 to offload embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), completing a six-month patrol as part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group. The Tripoli ARG included assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47), New Orleans and the embarked 31st MEU. The patrol saw the ARG sail to U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Tripoli returned to CFAS on July 27 while Rushmore returned on July 28.

In the Tsushima Strait

PLAN cruiser CNS Anshan (103) and destroyer CNS Kaifeng (124) on Aug. 2, 2026. Japan Joint Staff Office photo People’s Liberation Army Navy cruiser CNS Anshan (103), destroyer CNS Kaifeng (124) and fleet oiler CNS Kekexilihu (903) were sighted sailing southwest 50 kilometers – 31 miles – northeast of Tsushima at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday. From Sunday to Monday, the group sailed through the Tsushima Strait to enter the East China Sea.

According to Japan’s Joint Staff Office, JMSDF fast attack craft JS Shirataka (PG-829) and a JMSDF P-1 MPA shadowed the PLAN ships.

The PLAN ships are heading to Qingdao, China, after pulling into Vladivostok, Russia, on July 29 for a joint Russian Navy-PLAN joint patrol.

In Ominato, Japan

【#ゆうだち 帰国行事】

第５３次派遣海賊対処行動水上部隊「ゆうだち」は、令和8年1月28日(水)に大湊を出港してから185日間にわたる任務を立派に成し遂げ大湊に帰って来ました。「ゆうだち」の皆さん、お疲れさまでした！ご家族の皆様、支えていただきありがとうございました！ pic.twitter.com/eQ1JizQC4B

— 海上自衛隊大湊地区隊【公式】 (@JMSDF_orh) August 1, 2026

Japanese destroyer JS Yūdachi (DD-103) returned on Saturday to JMSDF Ominato Naval Base after completing a 185-day deployment off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden as the 53rd Deployment Surface Force for Counter Piracy Enforcement. The deployment is the JMSDF’s ongoing rotational deployment for counter-piracy and escort missions, which began in 2009.

In Yokosuka, Japan

Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332) arrived Aug. 1, 2026, at Yokosuka, Japan, for a port visit. Indonesian Navy photo Attack submarine USS Vermont (792) departed Saturday from Yokosuka, Japan, according to the Yokosuka City Council and Japanese ship spotters.

Also on Saturday, destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) returned to Yokosuka and Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332) arrived at Yokosuka for a port visit. The Indonesian Navy frigate is on its way home after carrying out Russian Navy-Indonesian Navy bilateral exercise Orruda 2026 from July 28-29 in the waters of Vladivostok, Russia.

In Cam Ranh, Vietnam

Republic of Singapore Navy landing platform dock ship RSS Persistence (209) pulled into Cam Ranh, Vietnam, from Aug. 2-5, 2026. Vietnam People’s Army Newspaper photo Republic of Singapore Navy landing platform dock ship RSS Persistence (209) pulled into Cam Ranh from Saturday to Wednesday for a port visit. Persistence is on a training cruise with embarked naval trainees.

On Saturday as well, Vietnam People’s Navy frigate VPNS Tran Hung Dao (015) returned to Cam Ranh, completing a defense diplomacy deployment to Guangzhou, China, and Manila, Philippines.

“The delegation adhered to the scheduled arrival, stay, and departure times; fully complied with international maritime law and regulations governing naval vessels operating in foreign waters and ports; and properly observed regulations on external relations. All activities were conducted safely, leaving a positive impression on the Chinese and Philippine navies,” reads a Vietnam People’s Army Newspaper report.

In Surabaya, Indonesia

PLAN’s CNS Qi Jiguang (83) in Surabaya, Indonesia, from Aug. 2-6, 2026. Indonesian Navy photo The 83rd PLAN Task Group – training ship CNS Qi Jiguang (83) and amphibious transport dock CNS Kunlunshan (998) – carried out a port visit to Surabaya, Indonesia, from Sunday to Thursday. The task group, with more than 400 midshipmen and instructors embarked, left Qingdao on June 15 for a training and engagement deployment.

In the Riau Islands, Indonesia

Fast attack KRI Sampari (628) fired a Chinese made C-705 missile at a land-based target on Aug. 5, 2026. Indonesian Navy photo The Indonesian Armed Forces on Wednesday carried out their Integrated Operations 2026 exercise at the Indonesian Navy Dabo Singkep training area, Riau Island.

Landing platform dock ship KRI dr. Soeharso (991) launched an Indonesian built AKM KI-50 attack drone in a live-fire drill. Also, fast attack KRI Sampari (628) fired a Chinese made C-705 missile at a land-based target and frigate KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata (331), multi-role combat ship KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321) and corvette KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (367) conducted naval gun firings.

In Singapore

Royal Australian Navy Bay-class landing ship dock HMAS Choules (L100) coming into Singapore – August 5, 2026 SRC: INST- yplanesonly pic.twitter.com/3csAuj9YzB

— WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) August 5, 2026

Royal Australian Navy amphibious dock landing ship HMAS Choules (L100) arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, according to ship spotters. Choules is operating as the host ship for the ongoing U.S. Navy-led Pacific Partnership 2026 humanitarian and civic assistance mission

The 25th iteration of Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) began Tuesday in Singapore. SEACAT 2026 is a multilateral exercise designed to enhance maritime cooperation among the participating nations and to provide mutual support in addressing maritime crises, contingencies and illicit activities. Maritime forces from 16 Indo-Pacific partner nations, including the U.S. Navy, and personnel from non-governmental and international organizations are participating in the exercise. The shore phase in Singapore will include the newly integrated Maritime Operations Forum, combining previous operations and intelligence workshops to enhance realism and collaboration, where participants will share best practices, refine integrated maritime processes and prepare for the at-sea phase.

Concurrently, a revised Senior Leader Forum engages senior military leaders from participating nations to share lessons learned on collective maritime challenges, improve understanding of integrated maritime operations, and participate in a capstone tabletop exercise alongside operational commanders and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operators, reads a U.S. Navy release. During the sea phase, participating nations will practice tracking and intercepting simulated vessels sailing through Southeast Asian waters, working to provide real-time sensor cueing and vessel contact information to partner Operational Centers, Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft and surface assets.

In Northern Territory, Australia

Royal Australian Air Force and participating nations showcase a display of aircraft, giving the community an opportunity to engage with defense personnel as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, on July 31, 2026. Australian Defense Ministry photo The Royal Australian Air Force Pitch Black 2026 international air combat exercise concluded on Friday. More than 2,500 personnel and 100 aircraft from 21 nations conducted the training over a three-week period.

This post was written by Dzirhan Mahadzir.