RIMPAC 2024 SINKEX: Allied helicopters sink retired US warships with multiple missile types

Helicopters played a major role in this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) sinking exercise (SINKEX), with at least three allied rotorcraft types employing weapons against retired U.S. Navy vessels.

Key Engagements

• U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters fired Spike NLOS (Spike Non-Line of Sight) missiles at the guided missile cruiser ex-USS Mobile Bay
• Royal New Zealand Navy SH-2G(I) Seasprite struck the amphibious assault ship ex-USS Peleliu with an AGM-119 Penguin missile
• Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk launched an AGM-114N Hellfire missile against a target ship
• Italian Navy SH-101 helicopter launched a Marte anti-ship missile

Collectively, the engagements underscored how helicopters are emerging as key contributors to distributed maritime strike, complementing fighters, warships, submarines, and land-based missile batteries with precision-guided anti-ship weapons.

Apache Strike Marks Milestone

The Apache strike, conducted July 11, saw AH-64s assigned to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, Multi-Domain Command–Pacific engage the former Ticonderoga-class cruiser ex-USS Mobile Bay during the live-fire SINKEX.

The Army's previous demonstration of an Apache destroying a much smaller boat with a Spike NLOS was something TWZ was first to report, but employing the weapon against a full-sized cruiser during the world's premier maritime exercise marks another significant milestone in the service's expanding maritime mission.

A major impact on the side of the ex-USS Mobile Bay during a sinking exercise (SINKEX) at RIMPAC 2026. — U.S. Navy screencap

The ex-USS Mobile Bay sinks below the waves, as seen from an attack submarine's periscope. — U.S. Navy screencap

Army's Growing Maritime Role

The Apache's participation in RIMPAC reflects the Army's steadily growing role in maritime operations across the Indo-Pacific. Long associated with close air support and anti-armor missions, the AH-64 is increasingly being tasked with engaging naval targets — a trend also observed in recent combat operations against Iran.

Spike NLOS Capabilities

Spike NLOS has emerged as one of the key tools enabling that mission. The Israeli-developed missile provides an operator-in-the-loop datalink that allows course corrections and aimpoint refinement throughout much of the missile's flight. That capability makes it particularly useful against moving or time-sensitive maritime targets, where target discrimination and battle damage assessment can be especially challenging.

AH-64 fires Spike NLOS during integration tests at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in 2023:

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Spike missile integrated into AH-64 at Yuma Proving Ground

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Compared with the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), Spike NLOS dramatically extends the Apache's reach while retaining the flexibility to engage both land and maritime targets.

Range Advantages

According to manufacturer Rafael, the latest version of Spike NLOS has a maximum range of roughly 20 miles, giving it a substantial stand-off advantage over the Hellfire and JAGM. The variants of those weapons currently fielded on U.S. Army Apaches have maximum ranges of less than 10 miles, though they are typically employed at considerably shorter distances in operational use. At the same time, extended-range versions of both missiles have been demonstrated, with Hellfire tested at approximately three times its standard range and JAGM at roughly double its baseline reach.

A U.S. Army graphic gives an idea of how much more reach the Spike NLOS gives Apaches compared to other weapons options, including the extended-range JAGM. — U.S. Army

Australian MH-60R Seahawk Engagement

The Royal Australian Navy's contribution highlighted another facet of the growing helicopter anti-ship mission. An MH-60R Seahawk embarked in the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer conducted a live AGM-114N Hellfire engagement against a target ship. While Hellfire lacks the standoff reach of Spike NLOS and is primarily associated with engaging smaller surface vessels, it remains a highly capable maritime strike weapon and is a standard part of the MH-60R's surface warfare arsenal.

New Zealand SH-2G(I) Seasprite Strike

Imagery released by the New Zealand Defense Force showed a Royal New Zealand Navy SH-2G(I) Seasprite embarked aboard the Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana launching an AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missile against the decommissioned amphibious assault ship ex-USS Peleliu. According to the NZDF, the missile penetrated the hull before detonating inside the vessel, inflicting significant internal damage and compromising its integrity.

Launch of an AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missile from a Royal New Zealand Navy SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopter. — New Zealand Defense Force

The ex-USS Peleliu after being hit by an AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missile and other weapons. — New Zealand Defense Force / Sargentina, Scott

Italian Navy Participation

The Italian Navy also revealed that an SH-101 helicopter embarked aboard the multirole combat ship G launched a Marte anti-ship missile.