RAN strengthens mine warfare with international partners

More than 350 personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy and United States Navy have participated in a biennial exercise in the Jervis Bay area designed to strengthen mine warfare, clearance diving and seabed warfare capabilities. Exercise Dugong 2026 wrapped up this week, with the Royal Australian Navy-led activity enhancing the ability of the three navies to operate together in complex maritime environments. The exercise integrated mine warfare, clearance diving, maritime explosive ordnance disposal, military geospatial effects and autonomous underwater vehicle operations, providing a realistic training environment for skills development across littoral and seabed warfare activities. The exercise involved two ships, the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Yarra and Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Matataua, as well as eight autonomous underwater vehicles with mine and mine countermeasure capabilities. Exercise Director Captain Scott Craig said the activity demonstrated the importance of maintaining capable and adaptable forces in an increasingly complex and contested maritime environment. “Exercise Dugong 2026 provided an important opportunity for us to integrate personnel, technology and capabilities across our partner navies while strengthening our ability to operate together in support of regional maritime security,” Captain Craig said. “The exercise combined emerging technologies with current mine warfare and clearance diving capabilities, helping ensure we remain prepared to address current and future maritime challenges.” Commanding Officer HMAS Yarra, Lieutenant Commander Andy Penfold, said the exercise highlighted the importance of trust and cooperation between longstanding partners. “Exercise Dugong brings together highly skilled sailors, clearance divers and specialist operators from Australia, New Zealand and the United States to train in a challenging environment,” Lieutenant Commander Penfold said. “The relationships built during exercises such as Dugong are critical. They strengthen trust, improve understanding between our forces and ensure we can operate seamlessly together when required.” Exercise Dugong 2026 also coincides with the 75th anniversary of Navy’s clearance diving capability, recognising the contribution clearance divers have made to maritime operations and undersea warfare since 1951. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]