NZDF Prepares For Major Warfighting Exercise In Australia
Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force
Held every two years, the exercise is designed to improve and strengthen interoperability and combat readiness in complex, multi-domain operations.
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel and assets have begun to deploy to one of the largest multi-national military exercises in the world.
Featuring more than 30,000 military personnel and platforms from 19 nations, Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 is being held from 13 July to 4 August across Australia.
Held every two years, the exercise is designed to improve and strengthen interoperability and combat readiness in complex, multi-domain operations.
In preparation for the exercise, close to 35 New Zealand Army vehicles, including Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAV) and the new Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, along with 150 personnel, boarded HMNZS Canterbury today, 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.
They will soon 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 alongside key partners.
In total, more than 680 NZDF personnel will deploy on the exercise.
'Talisman Sabre provides an invaluable opportunity for us to train with some of our closest defence partners in a realistic and demanding environment,' said Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Rob Krushka.
'Exercises like this ensure we remain a credible, capable and combat-ready force, ready to respond to regional and global challenges.'
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,' Major General Krushka said.
'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, including in Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland, and in the Coral Sea.
For the first time, Papua New Guinea will also be hosting an event.
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