“Talisman Sabre 25”: America Just Wrapped Up One of Its Biggest Naval Exercises Ever

In total, the “Talisman Sabre 25” exercise included more than 35,000 troops from 19 countries.

The most important US combatant command concluded a large-scale exercise with a handful of key allies, marking several notable firsts.

“Talisman Sabre” is the largest bilateral exercise between the American and Australian militaries. Several other regional and NATO allies and partners also take part in the joint training events. 

The goal of the large-scale exercise was to enhance interoperability between US and allied forces in the Indo-Pacific, one of the most critical areas of operations in the world.  

About the “Talisman Sabre 25” Exercises

This year’s iteration of “Talisman Sabre,” an annual Indo-Pacific military exercise, was the largest ever conducted under that format. In total, the exercise included more than 35,000 troops from 19 countries. It also included several highlights. During the exercise, the Australian Army used for the first time its M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) with the Precision Strike Missile (PSM). The US military achieved another notable first, successfully striking a maritime target with an SM-6 anti-ship missile fired from land.

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

The exercise also had a special operations flavor. Navy SEALs, Army “Night Stalkers” from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Australian commandos, and British Royal Marine Commandos conducted complex takedowns of enemy ships. American paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division also conducted a simulated long-range jump, alongside French and German paratroopers.

“This year’s iteration has shown how Australia can integrate closely with international partners and positively impact how we respond to a rapidly evolving strategic environment. We thank the participating nations for their contributions to the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre ever, and in making it an invaluable training opportunity for all involved,” Johnston added. 

America Has Many Friends in the Indo-Pacific

Troops from the United States, Australia, Japan, France, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, which contributed the HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group, also conducted large-scale amphibious operations. This was the first time in the history of the Talisman Sabre exercise that a non-American aircraft carrier participated.  

“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,” U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), said.  

Australia is one of the closest and most loyal US allies. Once part of the British Empire, Australia played a decisive role against Imperial Japan during World War II, and maintained close security ties with the United States thereafter. Since then, Canberra has been one of the most active US allies, participating in US-led military missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The Australian military is also growing to meet the demands of the current times.

“These accomplishments reflect the distinct professionalism of the combined force and our shared commitment to advancing security, freedom, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific,” Paparo added.  

As Beijing continues to pose a threat to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, INDOPACOM remains the US military’s most important combatant command.

In addition to Talisman Sabre, the US military also concluded REFORPAC 25, another large-scale naval and air exercise. Both exercises were intended to deter China from taking any aggressive action in the region. 

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou    

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.   

Image: Wikimedia Commons.