Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 concludes

The 11th iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre concluded at a closing ceremony in Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Following three weeks of intensive training and high-end warfighting scenarios across Australia and complex training exercises in Papua New Guinea, more than 40,000 military personnel from 19 participating nations and two observer nations will now return home. 

Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity conducted between the Australian Defence Force and the United States Armed Forces.

The final activity of Talisman Sabre 2025 saw personnel from Australia, the United States, and Papua New Guinea’s defence forces come together to conduct a joint personnel recovery activity across several training locations between Lae and Wewak in Papua New Guinea.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 started on July 15 with the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide in Sydney Harbor. US service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force participated, integrating their capabilities across all domains with the Australian Defence Force and multinational partners. 

Further highlights of Talisman Sabre in Australia include:

• The first live firing of the Australian M142 high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS), including the use of the precision strike missile.
• A successful land-to-sea engagement of the United States mid-range capability (MRC) using an SM-6 missile against a maritime target.
• Participation of the United Kingdom-led Carrier Strike Group, representing the first time a non-US aircraft carrier has been involved in Talisman Sabre.
• A long-distance Joint Force Entry Operation that deployed 335 United States Army paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division from Alaska to charter towers alongside French and German paratroopers.
• Large-scale amphibious operations involving forces from Australia, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Exercise Talisman Sabre reflects a shared commitment to enduring relationships between trusted allies and partners, and a peaceful, stable and sovereign Indo-Pacific,” David Johnston AC RAN, Chief of the Defence Force, said.

“Australia and PNG have a long history of standing shoulder-to-shoulder to respond to security challenges in our region and share a mutual understanding that we are stronger, safer and more resilient when we work together.”

“Over the course of this year’s exercise, we achieved remarkable milestones—refining joint operational capabilities, integrating cutting-edge technologies, and enhancing our ability to conduct complex land, air, amphibious, and maritime operations seamlessly,” Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, noted.

“Papua New Guinea has been proud to host a component of Exercise Talisman Sabre in our 50th year of Independence. It has been an opportunity to demonstrate both the strength of our defence partnership with Australia and the United States, and the skills and capabilities of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force,” Philip Polewara DMS CBE, Chief of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, stated.

Exercise Talisman Sabre has been conducted biennially since 2005.