Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 has officially begun, bringing together 19 nations and over 35,000 military personnel across air, land, maritime, cyber and space domains.
The Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, leading the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG25), will participate alongside British Army and Royal Air Force elements in what Australia’s Department of Defence calls the largest and most complex iteration of the biennial exercise to date.
The UK contribution is part of Operation Highmast, which has already included joint operations with the Indian Navy and port visits across the Indo-Pacific. The task group, which includes vessels from Canada, Spain, Norway and New Zealand, recently entered the region following transit through the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Talisman Sabre 2025 involves live-fire drills, amphibious landings and field manoeuvres across Australia. Defence planners are coordinating with local authorities to manage the impact of large vehicle convoys, increased air traffic and temporary closures of public waters and airspace.
Port visits to Singapore, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Indonesia are also planned, alongside a UK-hosted Pacific Future Forum in Japan. The Defence Secretary has stated that these engagements support the government’s Plan for Change, linking hard power with trade and diplomatic outreach.
Anyone know if the CSG be visiting Sydney afterwards? Plenty of room here in the harbour. Mostly nice weather on tap.Just had a thought, maybe they can circumnavigate the continent on the way back home!? 😆
I was very lucky in the past. Visited Sydney with my parents, great city – Really enjoyed. I remember seeing a couple of the Aussie frigates moored in the harbour area. Coming back from Australia we visited Hawaii and Maui. I always remember me and my dad going past a beach bar full of Aussie navy chaps that had come across from a moored Australian Frigate visible of the coastline, they were having a very good time. Two Aussie navy MP’s were standing outside with handcuffs and truncheons waiting. We had a good chuckle over that one. Great times and a special once in a lifetime vacation for us. Sadly my dad is no longer with us, so very special memories that period is for me and family.
QD,
A perhaps interesting question is whether the CSG attached Astute class SSN will make a port call at Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling? Early indication whether RN will be able to honor commitment to supply an Astute class to AUKUS submarine rotational force? Delay in construction of HMS Achilles could become critical.
I’m sure sending a fleet headed by a super carrier makes up for us sending an OPV last time 😀
Great to see PoW and her crew exercising such power on the other side of the world.