Australia’s largest bilateral military exercise, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, officially commenced today with an opening ceremony held on board HMAS Adelaide.
The Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, joined the United States Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, for the official launch at Garden Island, Sydney.
Now in its 11th iteration, Talisman Sabre 2025 marks the most expansive and complex warfighting exercise ever conducted in Australia.
Over the next three weeks, more than 35,000 military personnel from Australia and 18 partner nations will conduct operations across Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and Christmas Island. For the first time, activities will also be staged outside Australia in Papua New Guinea.
In addition to the United States, participating nations include:
Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom.
Malaysia and Vietnam will attend as observers.
This year’s exercise features a full suite of military activities including live-fire drills, amphibious landings, ground manoeuvres, air combat operations and maritime warfare. Integrated training will span the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains.
Talisman Sabre 2025 will also showcase new Australian Defence Force capabilities, including the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).
QUOTES
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, ADF:
“Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 unites more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations and provides an unrivalled opportunity to train together across the sea, land, air, space and cyber domains.
This exercise remains a powerful demonstration of Australia’s enduring commitment to strengthening relationships between trusted allies and partners in support of a peaceful, stable and sovereign Indo-Pacific.
Defence appreciates the support of the community for our essential training. From planning through to execution, we have conducted site surveys and engaged with state authorities, traditional owners and key stakeholders to ensure a safe and productive exercise for all participating nations.”
Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific:
“Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 is a powerful demonstration of our combined strength, trust, interoperability and readiness across the Indo-Pacific.
As part of the Combined Joint Force, we train diligently and realistically to integrate capabilities across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains – operating alongside our allies and partners from 19 nations.
These exercises allow us to employ war-winning capabilities, operate in critical locations, demonstrate multinational resolve, and strengthen our collective deterrence. Our shared goal: to prevent war.
Together, we are building tactical trust, rehearsing operational manoeuvres and reaffirming our strategic commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
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