The HMS Prince of Wales off the coast of India on June 15. Photo: LPhot Bill Spurr © Crown copyright 2025.
NATO countries are refining their long-reach skills as their naval and aerial presence at Australia’s largest war games expands.
A UK-led carrier strike group is on the way and Norway is sending combat aircraft for the first time to Exercise Talisman Sabre.
A record 19 countries will be involved; other NATO participating countries are the US, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom.
Norwegian F-35 fighter jets and a C-130J Hercules transport will fly to Australia for Talisman Sabre.
“To safeguard our own security, we must understand developments in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, and what they mean for Norway and Europe,” Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik says.
“Participation in exercises such as Talisman Sabre strengthens co-operation with our close allies, and gives us insight into a region of increasing strategic importance.”
Norway will send six F-35 fighter jets, a C-130J Hercules and more than 150 personnel to test their ability to deploy and operate anywhere in the world.
“Talisman Sabre is a milestone,” says Norwegian Air Force chief Major-General Oivind Gunnerud.
“For the first time we are bringing the F-35 to the southern hemisphere and for the C-130J, its first time to Australia.
“The exercise will give us unique experience with long-range deployment and strengthen our ability to operate together with partners in demanding environments.”
A Norwegian frigate, the KNM Roald Amundsen, is also on its way as part of the carrier strike group.
KIWI JOINS CARRIER STRIKE GROUP
The UK-led NATO Carrier Strike Group (CSG25), led by British carrier HMS Prince of Wales, is now in near India after it passed through the Red Sea.
The deployment, known as Operation Highmast, includes ships from Canada, Norway Spain – and now New Zealand.
Kiwi frigate Te Kaha joined the groups after serving in the Arabian Sea; it helped Australia to monitor three Chinese ships conducting live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea earlier this year.
CSG25 commander Commodore James Blackmore notes that the Te Kaha has been kept busy by a two-month deployment with Combined Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea, patrolling and catching drug smugglers.
Her Sea Sprite helicopter has been landing on flight decks of ships in the group (and reportedly a first for the type on the carrier) while Fleet Air Arm helicopters dropped in on the Kiwi frigate.
The carrier has 24 F-35B (VTOL) aircraft from two squadrons and almost 5000 personnel onboard.
The carrier group will make port visits to Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Darwin.
NZDF OFF TO QUEENSLAND
The NZ Defence Force has already sent 35 Army vehicles, including light armoured vehicles and Aussie-built Bushmasters and 150 personnel, to Queensland vis the HMZAS Canterbury.
The NZ army will train with the Australian Army’s 7th brigade in preparation for the war games.
The Te Kaha, three NH90 helicopters, RNZAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft and more than 680 NZDF personnel will also be taking part.
