USNI News Western Pacific Pulse: Sept. 25, 2026

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

In U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Operations

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrives in Guam on Sept. 19, 2026. US Navy photo The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway following a two-day stop in Guam last weekend. The strike group includes aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) and destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121).

As of Friday, Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for 308 days.

In the Philippine Sea

U.S. Navy Seaman Annagrace Perez, assigned to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120), stands lookout watch on the bridge wing while underway in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 23, 2026. US Navy photo Destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) is conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea. Carl M. Levin is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15.

Destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) is operating in the Philippine Sea. Benfold, homeported in Everett, WA., is forward deployed and assigned to DESRON 15.

In the South China Sea

From left, Philippine Navy Tarlac-class landing platform dock BRP Tarlac (LD 601), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Hyūga Class Helicopter Destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182), and Philippine Navy Rizal-class guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FFG 14) with a flyover by a Philippine Navy C-90 aircraft conduct division tactics as part of Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity in the South China Sea, Sept. 23, 2026. US Navy photo The Philippines and Japan are co-hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) expert working group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity , which began Monday and ends on Saturday.

The shore phase took place in Subic Bay, Zambales, while the sea phase began on Wednesday.

U.S. Navy participation includes Littoral Combat Ship USS Canberra (LCS-30) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Other participating ships are Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH-182), Indian Navy frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) and corvette INS Kulish (P63), Philippines frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FFG-14) and BRP Tarlac (LD-601), Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Perth (FFH157), Republic of Singapore Navy littoral mission vessel RSS Justice (18) Royal Brunei Navy offshore patrol vessel KDB Darussalam (06) and Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana (F111) and fleet oiler HMNZS Aotearoa (A11). The ships formed a combined task group for the exercise.

U.S. Navy Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS-30), back, sails in formation with Republic of Singapore Navy Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Justice (18) during division tactics as part of a Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity (JCA) in the South China Sea, Sept. 23, 2026. Philippine Navy photo Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN News reported Thursday that a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship shadowed the task group as it approached the designated exercise box, which was around 45 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal. China is a member of the ADMM-PLUS group but only attended the opening ceremony of the exercise.

While in the South China Sea en route to the Philippines, the Royal New Zealand Navy task group of Te Mana and Aotearoa conducted a duel replenishment at sea with Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG42).

In Banten, Indonesia

A Republic of Singapore Navy Fast Craft Utility transits from shore to Indonesia’s hospital ship KRI dr. Soeharso during Exercise Trident, which runs Sept. 22-26, 2026. Singapore Ministry of Defense photo Beginning on Monday, the ADMM-Plus Group conducted Exercise Trident in the province of Banten, Java, Indonesia. Trident Resolve is the first ADMM-Plus Combined Field Training Exercise involving three experts working groups on cyber security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine. Australia and Cambodia headed the cyber security group, Singapore and New Zealand headed the HADR group, and the U.S. and Indonesia headed the military medicine group.

Indonesia hosted the exercise.

Trident Resolve is the largest ADMM-Plus exercise in a decade, according to a Singapore Ministry of Defense news release. Participation includes 2,200 personnel from all 19 ADMM-Plus countries. The exercise is being conducted across seven distributed sites and at sea.

The exercise, which will conclude Saturday, has seen militaries and civilian agencies carry out coordination and response to a large-scale disaster, through activities spanning search and rescue, medical evacuation and treatment, chemical, biological and radiological response and infrastructure repair. Cybersecurity activities have focused on protecting information systems and information integrity against disruption or compromise during the multinational disaster response.

The Indonesian Navy deployed hospital ship KRI dr. Soeharso (990) and the Republic of Singapore Navy deployed amphibious tank landing ship RSS Endeavour (210) for the exercise.

In Port Klang, Malaysia

Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Spey (P234) docked at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal, Malaysia on Sept. 24, 2026. USNI News photo Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey (P234) docked into Port Klang Cruise Terminal, Malaysia on Tuesday for a port visit, as well as for engagements with the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Spey will depart next week to participate with sister ship HMS Tamar (P233) in Five Power Defence Arrangement exercise Bersama Lima, which runs from Oct. 12-21 around the waters and airspace of Malaysia and Singapore. Both Spey and Tamar have been forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific since 2021.

In Laem Chabang, Thailand

Italian Navy multi-role combat ship ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P434). Italian government photo Italian Navy multi-role combat ship ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P434) docked into Laem Chabang Thailand on Tuesday for a port visit, which will conclude Saturday, according to an Italian Embassy news release. Giovanni delle Bande Nere is on home bound following an Indo-Pacific deployment that saw it take part in the Rim of the Pacific 2026 and Pacific Dragon 2026 exercises held over the summer around Hawaii.

In West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47 helicopter embarked on JMSDF amphibious tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) to support Indonesia with firefighting relief, shared Sept. 24, 2026. JMSDF photo JMSDF amphibious tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) and one Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47 helicopter are supporting Indonesia in carrying out firefighting and relief operations against the ongoing wildfire in the province of Ketapang. Two other JGSDF helicopters that were embarked on Kunisaki remain at Kijing Port to conduct firefighting operations in the area around the port.

In Wonsan, North Korea

North Korea tests two Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 hypersonic missiles on Sept. 20, 2026. State media Korean Central News Agency photo North Korea conducted hypersonic missile test launches on Sunday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the tests. Two missiles were launched towards the Sea of Japan with the first at 3 p.m. local time and the second at 5.50 p.m. local time.

Separately, state media Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday that North Korea’s defense scientific research sector conducted a test of updated 240mm-calibre controlled multiple-launch rockets. The updated rockets incorporated an autonomous precision guidance system and are capable of striking targets up to 100 kilometers 62 miles – away via ballistic flight and 115 kilometers – 72 miles – via a combined glide flight method. No location was given for the tests.

In Yokosuka, Japan

米海軍ﾛｻﾝｾﾞﾙｽ級原子力潜水艦「ｽｸﾗﾝﾄﾝ(USS Scranton, SSN-756)」

2週間の寄港を終えて出航

ご安航をお祈りします(UW) pic.twitter.com/JRzjG7PhOD

— モリジュン(MoriJun) (@HNlEHupY4Nr6hRM) September 22, 2026

Fast attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN-756) departed Tuesday from Yokosuka, Japan, following a port visit, according to Japanese ship spotters.

In Hokkaido, Japan

A U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), assigned to 1-17 Long Range Fires Battalion, 3d Multi-Domain Task Force, fires during a live-fire event at Yausubetsu Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Sept. 22, 2026, during Exercise Orient Shield 26. US Army photo The U.S. Army, JGSDF and Australian Army concluded exercise Orient Shield 26 on Thursday with a closing ceremony at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan.

Orient Shield 26 featured several firsts for the exercise, including the integration of tactical operations centers to create a shared common operational picture at the tactical level, enhancing coordination and information sharing among participating forces, reads a U.S. Army news release.

The exercise also featured its first joint airborne operation, with approximately 260 U.S. soldiers parachuting from five C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. U.S., Japanese and Australian forces also participated in rigorous field training and multinational maneuver operations, including firing the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), while the JGSDF fired their Multiple Launch Rocket System during a live-fire event on Tuesday at Yausubetsu Training Area, Hokkaido.

In La Pérouse Strait, Japan

Russian Navy cruiser RFS Varyag (011) and missile range instrumentation ship Marshal Krylov (331) on Sept. 23, 2026. Japan Joint Staff Office photo At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Russian Navy cruiser RFS Varyag (011) and missile range instrumentation ship Marshal Krylov (331) were sighted sailing northeast 60 kilometers – 37 miles – west of Rebun Island and subsequently sailed east through La Pérouse Strait to enter the Sea of Okhotsk. JMSDF fast attack craft JS Kumataka (PG-827) shadowed the Russian ships.

In the Sea of Japan

A Russian IL-20 Electronic Intelligence (IL-20) flight path over the Sea of Japan on Sept. 25, 2026. Japan Joint Staff Office map On Friday, a Russian IL-20 Electronic Intelligence (IL-20) flew in from the Russian continent and over the Sea of ​​Japan to the west coast of Hokkaido. The aircraft then flew off Tottori Prefecture on the main island of Honshu before turning back towards Russia.

In response, fighter aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Northern Air Defense Command and other units were scrambled, stated Japan’s Joint Staff Office.

In Sydney, Australia

HMAS Supply returns on Sept. 23, 2026, to Fleet Base East, NSW, on completion of Regional Presence Deployment 2026. Royal Australian Navy photo Fleet oiler HMAS Supply (A195) returned Wednesday to Fleet Base East, Sydney, Australia, following a 101-day deployment across the Indo-Pacific. During the deployment, it visited Singapore, Japan and the Philippines and worked alongside regional partners, including the U.S and Philippine navies.

“Supply’s integration with the US Indo-Pacific logistics command, Task Force 73, demonstrated the high level of interoperability between the Royal Australian Navy and U.S. Navy, enabling allied and partner forces to operate together effectively through shared logistics, maritime sustainment and cooperative activities,” reads an Australian Defense Department news release.

This post was written by Dzirhan Mahadzir.