Military personnel from across the globe will arrive in Australia for the Exercise Talisman Sabre

Locations across Australia, including Townsville, will soon welcome more than 30,000 military personnel as part of the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre

Personnel from 40 Commando Royal Marines, are transported to shore by a Royal Australian Navy LHD Landing Craft, prior to amphibious assault activity, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: LACW Jacqueline Forrester

Townsville will soon welcome more than 30k military personnel from 19 countries as part of the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre.

The 11th Talisman Sabre will feature live firing and field training exercises, with most training activity taking place between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military.

The Talisman Sabre will travel across Australia, including locations in Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

Talisman Sabre Exercise Director Brigadier Damian Hill said military personnel would travel from across the world, including Canada, Germany and Japan.

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

United States Marine Sergeant Alexander Thomas from the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, secures Forrest Beach, Queensland, as part of an amphibious assault activity, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Picture: Corporal Jarrod McAneney

“Considerable planning has gone into a safe productive exercise for all participants.”

Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones said the Talisman Sabre was incredibly important in strengthening ties with the world.

“It is a key opportunity to work with our partners from across the region and around the globe, demonstrating our combined capability to achieve large-scale operational outcomes together,” he said.

This year’s Talisman Sabre will also mark the first time Papua New Guinea’s first time hosting an activity.

Vice Admiral Jones said it’s great to see the connection between Australia and Papua New Guinea grow.

“This is an important demonstration of the deepening integration between Australia and Papua New Guinea’s Defence Forces,” he said.

The Talisman Sabre will take place from July 13 to August 4, 2025.

Originally published as Military personnel from across the globe will arrive in Australia for the Exercise Talisman Sabre