Australia Launches Record Military Drills with 19 Nations, HIMARS Fired as China Watches
Australia Launches Record Military Drills with 19 Nations, HIMARS Fired as China Watches
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, Australia’s largest-ever war-fighting drills involving over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, commenced this week. Live-fire exercises are already underway, with Australia’s military successfully conducting its first-ever live firing of the newly acquired M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on Monday at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland.
Brigadier Nick Wilson hailed the HIMARS live-fire as a “remarkable day,” signifying a major leap in Australia’s long-range defense capabilities. The biennial exercise, officially launched on Sunday, includes participants from key regional and global partners such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, India, and the United Kingdom. For the first time, portions of the exercise will also extend beyond Australian borders to Papua New Guinea.
The massive drills are expected to attract close observation from Chinese surveillance vessels, a pattern noted in previous Talisman Sabre exercises since 2017. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy acknowledged the likelihood of Chinese monitoring, stating, “It’d be very unusual for them not to observe it.” He added that Australian forces would adapt their operations as needed.
The initiation of Talisman Sabre coincides with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s ongoing visit to China, where he is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping. Albanese has indicated that Chinese surveillance of the drills would not be a point of contention during his discussions, reaffirming Australia’s national interest.
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