Talisman Sabre 2017 officially opened in Sydney

Australia’s largest military exercise, Talisman Sabre, was officially opened today aboard the United States Landing Helicopter Dock USS Bonhomme Richard off the Sydney coast.

CAPTION: A Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) from USS Bonhomme Richard enters Sydney Harbour. Photo by Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.

Minister for Urban Development Paul Fletcher, representing the Minister for Defence, and the US Charge d’Affaires James Carouso, officially announced the start of the combined military exercise taking place from late June through to late July.

Field training will occur in Shoalwater Bay Training Area, near Rockhampton and Mount Bundy Training Area, south of Darwin.

Personnel will also operate from Australia in Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle and Canberra; and from the United States in Hawaii, Indiana, Virginia, Colorado and Washington.

Mr Fletcher was joined by the US Pacific Forces Commander Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr, and Officer Conducting the Exercise Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston along with other senior Australian Defence Force personnel.

Vice Admiral Johnston said the exercise was important to highlight and certify the interoperability between the forces.

“Talisman Sabre is the premier Australia-United States bilateral exercise,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“This year, we are pleased to see personnel from New Zealand, Japan and Canada embedded within Australian and United States units.”

More than 33,000 military personnel will participate in the largest bilateral military exercise between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military.

“The exercise provides invaluable experience to ADF personnel to improve combat training, readiness and interoperability, exposing participants to a wide spectrum of military capabilities and training experiences,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

Focused on mid-intensity, high-end warfighting, Talisman Sabre 2017 will incorporate force preparation activities, special-forces activities, amphibious landings, parachuting, land force manoeuvre, urban operations, air operations, maritime operations and a number of live-fire components.

“Regular training and exercising between our military forces serves to enhance our combat readiness and interoperability,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“This enables our military forces to be prepared and capable of meeting future security challenges in our region and globally.”

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