‘Largest ever’: 30,000 personnel mobilised for Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia

A massive military operation involving some 30,000 military personnel will be hosted across multiple Australian states.

A massive military operation – described as the “largest ever” in its history – involving some 30,000 military personnel will be hosted across multiple Australian states.

Now in its tenth iteration, the biennial Exercise Talisman Sabre will run from July 22 through to August 4, taking place primarily in Queensland.

Australian Army Chaplin, Major Gary Pope from the 3rd Brigade Headquarters, delivers a field service to soldiers at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Department of Defence

British Royal Marine Commandos patrol past sugar cane fields in Ingham, Queensland, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Department of Defence

About 30,000 personnel from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and US military will be mobilised for the operation.

Military exercises will also take place in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

They will involve “large scale logistics, multi-domain firepower demonstrations, land combat, amphibious landings and air operations”.

Deputy prime minister Richard Marles said the record-breaking exercise was a “practical demonstration” of Australia’s alliance with the United States.

An Australian Army M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier with soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, provide security during a simulated firefight in Ingham, Queensland, as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Department of Defence

United States Marines from the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, land on Forrest Beach, Queensland, as part of an amphibious assault activity, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Department of Defence

“Australia is excited to host what will be the largest ever iteration of Talisman Sabre this year, involving more of our partner nations than ever before,” he said.

“Talisman Sabre reflects a shared commitment to enduring relationships between trusted partners, and a stable Indo-Pacific through an upholding of the rules-based order.”

HMAS Brisbane’s embarked MH-60R helicopter, ‘Nomad’, prepares to land after conducting aerial surveillance off the coast of Queensland, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Department of Defence

A Royal Australian Air Force No. 6 Squadron EA-18G Growler aircraft and a No. 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft fly alongside a United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Department of Defence

Talisman Sabre Exercise director brigadier Damian Hill said the 14-day exercise would illustrate Australia’s capability to receive and mobilise military resources.

“This year’s exercise will demonstrate our ability to receive large volumes of personnel and equipment into Australia from across the Indo-Pacific and stage, integrate and move them forward into the large exercise area.,” he said.

Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany will also participate as partner nations.

The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will attend as observers.