U.S. Army tests rapid HIMARS deployment by air in Hawaii ahead of Philippines missions

The US Army's 25th Infantry Division conducted a HIMARS Rapid Infiltration exercise in Hawaii using Air Force C-17 transports to move rocket-artillery launchers between dispersed locations. During Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotation 27-01, crews unloaded and positioned HIMARS for a dry-fire mission on Kauai, testing coordination, air loading and rapid tactical deployment rather than launching live rockets. The unit is preparing for spring and summer 2027 deployments to the Philippines under Operation Pathways, where similar mobility may be rehearsed with partners. The event was a readiness exercise and procedural demonstration, not an operational missile strike.