Footage released from the multinational RIMPAC 2026 exercise shows a heavy attack scenario against USS Peleliu, a U.S. amphibious assault ship that has long been out of service. The vessel, weighing nearly 40,000 tons, was used as a sinking target near Hawaii as part of the SINKEX exercise.
Successive strikes on a decommissioned ship
According to data made public for the exercise, USS Peleliu was hit by a series of weapons in a scenario simulating attacks on ships under real combat conditions.
The footage shows powerful explosions on board as the ship takes successive hits during the controlled sinking operation.
Two Harpoon missiles launched from a submarine
Among the weapons used were two Harpoon anti-ship missiles launched from a submarine, which struck the target directly.
In the version released for the exercise, these strikes are presented as part of the SINKEX phase, in which decommissioned ships are used to test weapons and attack tactics at sea.
Also targeted by allies
USS Peleliu also came under fire from various weapons systems used by allied forces, including Spain and Japan.
This makes the exercise a demonstration of multinational naval coordination, but also a clear display of firepower capabilities in a simulated war scenario.
The use of a USV, a novelty in this type of exercise
One of the most distinctive elements of this edition was the use of an uncrewed surface vessel, used to strike the target in a scenario similar to kamikaze attacks.
According to data released for the activity, this is considered the first case in which a USV was used to attack a target ship in a U.S. SINKEX-type exercise.
What is RIMPAC
RIMPAC is considered one of the largest multinational naval exercises in the world and is held in the Hawaii area.
Naval forces from the United States and various allied and partner countries take part in the activity, in a format aimed at testing operational interoperability and weapons systems at sea.
The footage of the strike on USS Peleliu turns this episode into one of the strongest visual moments of RIMPAC 2026.
It shows not only the intensity of the exercise, but also the direction modern naval warfare scenarios are taking, with missiles, uncrewed platforms, and allied coordination playing an increasingly greater role.