New Zealand sending impressive contingent to Talisman Sabre

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel and assets have begun to deploy to one of the largest multi-national military exercises in the world.

CAPTION: One of three New Zealand NH-90 helicopters to be deployed on Ex Talisman Sabre 25 approached for embarkation on HMNZS Canterbury to sail for Australia. NZDF photo.

Featuring more than 30,000 military personnel and platforms from 19 nations, Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 will be held from 13 July to 4 August across Australia and PNG.

Held every two years, the exercise is designed to improve and strengthen interoperability and combat readiness in complex, multi-domain operations.

In preparation for this year’s exercise, around 35 New Zealand Army vehicles, including Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAV) and the new Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, along with 150 personnel, boarded HMNZS Canterbury this week, ready for the transit to Queensland.

Once there, the NZ Army combat team will link up with the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade for a preparatory exercise to hone their interoperability in the build up to Talisman Sabre.

HMNZS Canterbury will return to Wellington later this month to embark further equipment and personnel for Ex Talisman Sabre before continuing on a deployment to the southwest Pacific.

The New Zealand contingent in Australia will also be joined by the frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, three NH90 helicopters, P-8A Poseidon aircraft, mine warfare divers, military police, medics, logistics and others to support a range of intense land, air, and maritime operations.

In total, more than 680 NZDF personnel will deploy on Talisman Sabre 25.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Rob Krushka said Talisman Sabre would provide an invaluable opportunity for New Zealand to train with some of its closest defence partners in a realistic and demanding environment.

“Exercises like this ensure we remain a credible, capable and combat-ready force, ready to respond to regional and global challenges,” Major General Krushka said.

“Participating alongside ally Australia and defence partners including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and others, the NZDF’s involvement reflects New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to collective security, regional stability and defence cooperation.

“One of our real capabilities is force integration.

“We have a well-proven ability to seamlessly embed our personnel and platforms into multi-national, multi-domain tactical forces and this exercise gives us another opportunity to demonstrate this.”

Talisman Sabre 25 will incorporate joint training scenarios including amphibious landings, maritime identification and interception, air operations, live-fire exercises, and logistics support across a vast training area.

 

.

.


.


.