Australia is poised to host the largest ever edition of the international Talisman Sabre exercise this year across northern Australia, with approximately 30,000 military personnel to participate.
The number of troops taking part in the biennial maneuver will almost double in the number of personnel involved compared to the 2021 edition.
Now in its tenth iteration, Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian defense force and United States military.
According to the defense ministry, the exercise is an opportunity to hone 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.
The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will attend as observers.
Talisman Sabre 2023 will run from July 22 to August 4, primarily in Queensland but also in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.
The 14-day exercise will include large scale logistics, multi-domain firepower demonstrations, land combat, amphibious landings and air operations.
“Talisman Sabre is a practical demonstration of our enduring alliance with the United States, through deepening cooperation in training and innovation,” Australia’s deputy prime minister Richard Marles 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.”
“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 exercise director, Brigadier Damian Hill, added.
“Talisman Sabre 2023 will be held across a range of defense and non-defense 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.”
