Operation Talisman Sabre 2007

[SWJED]

18 June AFP - Australia, U.S. Launch Talisman Sabre.

Australia and the United States launched a massive war game Monday aimed at honing their ability to act together against threats to Asia-Pacific security, commanders said.

More than 20,000 US troops and 12,000 Australians, backed by a total of 30 ships and 125 aircraft, will be involved in "Operation Talisman Sabre 2007" on the northeast coast until July 2.

Vice Admiral Doug Crowder, commander of the US Navy's 7th Fleet, said uncertainty and unpredictability remained a threat to economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Therefore it is very important that our militaries train together to carry out the types of missions our governments may call upon us to execute to ensure regional security and stability.

"That's exactly what Talisman Sabre 2007 is all about, further developing our ability to operate together as a combined military force," Crowder told reporters aboard the USS Blue Ridge command ship in Sydney.

Australia's Major General Richard Wilson said the operation was the country's largest military training exercise...

U.S. Pacific Command - Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07).

TALISMAN SABER 2007 (TS 07) is a biennial Australia/United bilateral exercise merging Exercises TANDEM THRUST, KINGFISHER and CROCODILE. TALISMAN SABER is the primary training venue for Commander Seventh Fleet as a Combined Task Force (CTF) in a short warning, power projection, forcible entry scenario. TS 07 includes a Command Post Exercise (CPX), a force on force and live fire Field Training Exercise (FTX), Maritime Preposition Offload FREEDOM BANNER, a strategic air drop and SOF training modules. Key exercise objectives include: establishing and augmenting a CTF, use of the USPACOM Multinational Forces SOP (MNF SOP), exercising a Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC) and incorporating combined transformation initiatives. Over 15,000 Australia and US forces are expected to participate in TS 07. The exercise will be a key opportunity to train Australian and US combined forces in mid to high-intensity combat operations using training areas in Australia.

[Stevely]

Also of note, TS 07 is the proof of concept for the Australian Joint Combined Training Capability, which includes a dedicated-training WAN (called the DTEN) and simulation tools, linking ranges and simulation centers across Australia, as well as a link to the US Joint National Training Capability (and JTEN network). This will allow Australia access to JNTC training resources connected to the JTEN (and vice versa) and direct Australian participation in US training events hosted on JTEN.

(Sales pitch disclaimer: I worked on the JTEN-DTEN connection for the past 18 months, it's nice to see TS07 finally happen, even if the execution has left us challenges to work through for the future.)

[Jedburgh]

....don't forget the official Aussie website for the exercise:

Exercise Talisman Saber

...and:

Talisman Saber Civil-Military Portal