Largest ever Exercise Talisman Sabre later this year

Australia will host the largest ever Exercise Talisman Sabre this year across northern Australia, with approximately 30,000 military personnel to participate, almost double the number involved in 2021.

FILE PHOTO: Australian soldiers from Reconnaissance Platoon, 2RAR, on the move at Fog Bay, Northern Territory, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015. Photo by Corporal Kyle Jenner.

Now in its 10th iteration, Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and United States military, reflecting the closeness of our Alliance.

The biennial exercise is an opportunity to exercise high-end, multi-domain warfare capabilities, build and affirm military-to-military ties and interoperability, and strengthen strategic partnerships across the region.

Confirmed participating partner nations in Talisman Sabre 2023 include Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany.

Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines will attend as observers.

The 14-day exercise will include large-scale logistics, multi-domain firepower demonstrations, land combat, amphibious landings and air operations.

Minister for Defence Richard Marles said Talisman Sabre was a practical demonstration of Australia’s enduring alliance with the United States, through deepening cooperation in training and innovation.

“Australia is excited to host what will be the largest-ever iteration of Talisman Sabre, this year, involving more of our partner nations than ever before,” Minister Marles said.

“Talisman Sabre reflects a shared commitment to enduring relationships between trusted partners.”

Talisman Sabre Exercise Director Brigadier Damian Hill said Talisman Sabre 2023 will be the largest ever iteration of the exercise in terms of both geographic span and also partner-nation involvement.

“Considerable planning has gone into a safe and productive exercise for all participants,” Brigadier Hill said.

“This year’s exercise will demonstrate our ability to receive large volumes of personnel and equipment into Australia from across the Indo-Pacific and stage, integrate and move them forward into the large exercise area.

“Talisman Sabre 2023 will be held across a range of Defence and non-Defence training areas across northern Australia and I thank the traditional owners, landowners, state authorities and key community stakeholders who have helped us develop a safe and productive exercise for all participating nations.”

Talisman Sabre 2023 will run from 22 July to 4 August primarily in Queensland but also in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

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