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RAAF Base Scherger on Cape York Peninsula will play a central role in the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre ever hosted by Australia, which will include more than 30,000 personnel – almost double the number of those who attended the event in 2021.
The 10th edition of the 14-day bilateral combined training activity will be held primarily in Northern Australia and Queensland from 22 July to 4 August.
Previous Talisman Sabre activities have included MRH90 Taipan Helicopters and Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, as well as KC-30A Multi Role Tanker aircraft and EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity held between the Australian Defence Force and United States military.
“Talisman Sabre is a practical demonstration of our enduring alliance with the United States, through deepening cooperation in training and innovation,” he said.
“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.
“Talisman Sabre reflects a shared commitment to enduring relationships between trusted partners, and a stable Indo-Pacific through an upholding of the rules-based order.”
Participating partner nations include Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. The Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand will attend as observers.
Talisman Sabre exercise director, Brigadier Damian Hill, said the exercise will include large scale logistics, multi-domain firepower demonstrations, land combat, amphibious landings, and air operations.
“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,” he 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.”
