Talisman Sabre 2025 -How the RAF is supporting 19 nations

The Royal Air Force is participating in one of the largest multinational military exercises across thousands of miles in Australia.

Exercise Talisman Sabre (TS25) is the 11th and largest iteration and designed to mirror real-world combat scenarios, rigorously testing both the equipment and tactics employed by the forces involved.

Taking place until the 4th August 2025, TS25 unites over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, underscoring the collaborative spirit essential to modern defence strategies and joint operational readiness.

Over 100 RAF personnel from a broad variety of professions have moved into locations from the southeast to the far northwest as either solo contributors or joining Australian Defence Force units for the duration of TS25.

This iteration of the exercise is set to be unprecedented in both scale and complexity, with the RAF poised to play a crucial role. The exercise encompasses a wide range of high-stake operations, including advanced air combat manoeuvres, strategic logistical support, and synchronised air operations alongside naval and ground forces. Central to these activities will be UK Defence as the Carrier Strike Group 25 bases in Australia as part of Operation Highmast.

TS25 consists of a live-fire exercise, and field training exercises incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations.

RAF personnel will engage in an extensive range of force preparation activities. This comprehensive training regime will include simulation exercises, strategic planning sessions, and coordination drills with allied forces. RAF squadrons will focus on refining their air superiority capabilities, tactical mobility, and reconnaissance skills, ensuring they are well-equipped to execute their missions effectively within the framework of a joint operation.

Exercise Talisman Sabre is being conducted across diverse training ranges and operational sites throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea. Key locations include the expansive Shoalwater Bay Training Area, which is renowned for large-scale amphibious operation training, as well as the Townsville Field Training Area, providing a realistic environment for integrated joint exercises. Various ports and air bases across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Christmas Island will also facilitate critical logistical and operational support activities.

This is a landmark occasion, as Papua New Guinea host participating nations in TS25 for the first time, further broadening the exercise’s regional influence and collaborative potential. The varied geographies and operational environments of these locations provide opportunities for diverse military branches to conduct comprehensive joint training exercises that span air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

The RAF’s involvement in Exercise Talisman Sabre goes beyond simply enhancing military efficacy; it highlights the vital importance of cultivating international partnerships and alliances to tackle shared security challenges. Exercises like TS25 serve as essential platforms for nations to reaffirm their commitments to defence collaboration, exchange best practices, and bolster the interoperability of allied forces.

As the RAF mobilises for its role in TS25, the focus remains on ensuring a successful integration of air power within the broader multi-national force structure. This exercise represents a significant opportunity to elevate collective defence capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region, reinforcing the RAF’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability through collaboration and preparedness.

Published: 21/07/2025 by Radio NewsHub