Australia Unleashes HIMARS in Record-Breaking Talisman Sabre Drills Amidst Chinese Scrutiny
Australia Unleashes HIMARS in Record-Breaking Talisman Sabre Drills Amidst Chinese Scrutiny
MELBOURNE, Australia – Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, Australia’s largest-ever war-fighting drills, are in full swing, highlighted by the Australian Army’s inaugural live-fire of its newly acquired M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on Monday. The landmark event took place at the sprawling Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland.
Brigadier Nick Wilson hailed the HIMARS live-fire as a “remarkable day,” marking a significant advancement in Australia’s long-range, multi-domain capabilities. The HIMARS launchers were recently procured from the United States, underscoring strengthening defense ties.
The biennial exercise, which officially commenced on Sunday, has expanded significantly since its inception in 2005. This year, over 35,000 military personnel from an unprecedented 19 nations, including key allies like the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, are participating over three weeks. For the first time, activities are also extending beyond Australian borders into Papua New Guinea.
The massive drills are expected to draw close attention from Chinese surveillance vessels, a common occurrence during past Talisman Sabre exercises since 2017. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy acknowledged the anticipated Chinese presence, stating, “It’d be very unusual for them not to observe it,” while affirming Australia’s intent to adjust its conduct as needed.
The exercises coincide with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s six-day visit to China, where he is slated to meet with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Albanese downplayed the potential for Chinese surveillance of Talisman Sabre to be a point of contention during his discussions, emphasizing that such observation is “nothing unusual.”
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