A light armoured vehicle disembarks on Forrest Beach, in Far North Queensland, during the 2021 exercises. Photo: Defence Department
PAPUA New Guinea will play host to exercises in this year’s Operation Talisman Sabre which is shaping as the largest ever involving 19 nations and 30,000 military personnel.
This year’s event, the 11th, will run from July 13 to August 4 and is the largest bilateral military training activity between Australia and the United States.
Taking part again this year are NATO and regional nations. The nations are: Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, PNG, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga and United Kingdom.
Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam will send observers.
The Department of Defence says sea, land and air activities will be held across Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and on Christmas Island.
PNG will also host activities as it marks its 50th anniversary of independence.
FORCES TO WORK TOGETHER
The Australian Defence Force’s Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, says Talisman Sabre is designed to deepen co-operation in training and integrate forces of partner nations.
“It is a key opportunity to work with our partners from across the region and around the globe, demonstrating our combined capability to achieve large-scale operational outcomes together,” he says.
“As well as welcoming the largest ever contingent of partner nations, Australia is also excited to be holding part of this year’s exercise in PNG.”
Talisman Sabre Exercise Director, Brigadier Damian Hill says the 2025 event will showcase their ability to host large numbers of personnel and equipment then stage, integrate and move them forward into the large exercise area.
“Considerable planning has gone into a safe and productive exercise for all participants,” he says.
“Talisman Sabre 2025 will be held across a range of Defence and non-defence training areas throughout northern Australia.”
This year’s event will focus on multi-domain warfighting. Key activities will include amphibious and airborne lodgements, firepower demonstrations, and combat across land, air, sea, space and cyber domains.
A UK-led NATO carrier strike group is expected to be part of the exercise.
The UK aircraft carrier leading the group has already departed Portsmouth on the start of an eight-month deployment at sea.
