Darwin hosts Germany, New Zealand and more for Exercise Kakadu

Thousands of navy personnel are taking part in multinational maritime operation Exercise Kakadu. The NT News hopped aboard HMAS Broome to bring you this photo gallery of our brave seafarers in action.

The Royal Australian Navy played host to more than 20 countries at weekend for Exercise Kakadu.

This year marks the 15th time Australia has hosted the maritime engagement exercise, with regional partners of the navy coming aboard to participate in realistic training operations.

More than 15 vessels, 30 aircraft and about 3000 personnel will participate throughout the exercise this month.

“As the navy’s most significant international engagement activity, Exercise Kakadu is vital for building relationships between participating countries,” director Captain Pete Bartlett said.

Crews from Fiji, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, East Timor and more are taking part in gunnery, missile, anti-submarine warfare and air defence exercises.

They also took part in counter-piracy operations, task group manoeuvres and diving operations.

It comes weeks after the biennial exercise Pitch Black ended.

The NT News was invited aboard HMAS Broome to watch a joint training exercise between the Australians and a Fijian crew from the RFNS Savenaca, where personnel boarded of an illegal fishing vessel.

Exercise Kakadu ends on September 24.

SEE THE PICTURES

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Pictures: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise involving Australian and international participants. Picture: Esther Linder

Originally published as Darwin hosts Germany, New Zealand and more for Exercise Kakadu