Talisman Sabre: Major military drills to begin off NSW South Coast

Australia’s largest military training exercise will descend on the NSW South Coast within days, with thousands of troops coming to coastal waters to complete live-fire weapons testing and realistic war simulations.

Sea exercises will be completed this weekend in Shoalhaven waters. Picture: Department of Defence

Australia’s biggest war games are about to explode into action — and the NSW South Coast is the frontline.

The country’s largest and most ambitious international military exercise, Talisman Sabre, will kick off this weekend, bringing tens of thousands of troops, tanks, ships and aircraft to training zones across the nation, including the Shoalhaven.

The biennial mega-exercise — held from late July to early August — will involve more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 countries, with combat drills running across land, sea and sky.

A key part of the action will unfold off the Shoalhaven coast, where live-fire weapons testing and high-speed manoeuvres will be carried out just offshore.

The Australian Defence Force confirmed vessels in the region will be temporarily subject to restricted access zones and exclusion areas.

A number of the training drills will occur around Nowra. Picture: Google Maps

“Mariners are advised not to anchor or navigate within 500m of vessels involved in Exercise Talisman Sabre unless otherwise exempted by Maritime Safety,” a Defence spokesman said.

The multi-domain training operation — first held in 2005 — is designed to simulate real-world military scenarios, test interoperability with allied forces, and strengthen regional defence partnerships.

The major training exercise will include beach landings on the Shoalhaven coast. Picture: Department of Defence

This year marks the 11th iteration of the drills, with live-fire ranges, amphibious landings, and air-sea combat operations taking place across a dozen locations, including training areas in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and for the first time, Papua New Guinea.

In recent years, Shoalhaven has become a crucial southern staging point for the Australian Defence Force, thanks to its coastal proximity, HMAS Albatross, and access to restricted airspace and naval corridors.

The Australian Defence Force spokesman said locals could expect to see low-flying aircraft, military convoys and increased maritime activity throughout the three-week operation.

However, they said every effort would be made to minimise community disruption.

Talisman Sabre 2025 is also expected to inject millions of dollars into regional economies, with thousands of visiting personnel moving through nearby towns and staging areas.

Authorities have urged residents and mariners to follow all safety advice and temporary restrictions while the drills are underway.

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Originally published as Talisman Sabre: Major military drills to begin off NSW South Coast