1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Now we know that Australia is going to host the 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: largest ever exercise, Talisman Saber, from the thirteenth of July 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: to the fourth of August this year. Over thirty thousand 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: military personnel from nineteen nations are set to participate in 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: activities across Australia and for the first time in Papua 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: New Guinea as well. Now joining us in the studio 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: is Talisman Sabers twenty twenty five Exercise Director Brigadier Damien Hill. 8 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Good morning Katie. 9 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: How are you yeah? Really good, Great to have you 10 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: in this studio. Now tell us how is the exercise 11 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: going to differ this year compared to previous years. 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: So tomorre a bit of an expansion from twenty twenty three, 13 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,639 Speaker 2: and I'm doing my second one as exercise director, so 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: either performance punishment or just punishment. But twenty twenty five 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 2: expands the exercise from twenty three, So we're talking about 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: activities from the Christmas Island Beecroft Weapons Range, fifteen nations 17 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: in twenty three nineteen in twenty five and excitingly, Papua 18 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: New Guinea has agreed to host an activity as part 19 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 2: of Talisman saber. 20 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: For the first time. Yeah, what's that going to mean? 21 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: How does that sort of work? 22 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 2: I spice, So we have an opportunity to practice with 23 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: the Papua New Guineans and the United States and p 24 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: and G a joint personnel recovery, so the loss of 25 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: a person or a capability and just practice their international 26 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 2: obligations with them and understand how we can support each 27 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 2: other in those difficult activities that are a joint. 28 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: Personnel recovery and I guess you know within our region, 29 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: and it does sort of, you know, exemplify just how 30 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: important this region is as well. I mean thirty thousand 31 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: military personnel from over nineteen nations that is like, that's 32 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: a phenomenal number. 33 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: It is, and potentially we could gust up to forty 34 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: thousand really during the peak of the exercise. So yeah, 35 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: it is a lot. We're talking well over thirty military ships, 36 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: over two hundred aircraft, thousands of vehicles and I know 37 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: there's a whole bunch of vehicles here from our reserve 38 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 2: units in the South of Australia will be participating and 39 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: you would have seen them in the Port of Darwin 40 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: getting ready for the exercise and they'll be part of 41 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: the community engagement here in Darwin. 42 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: So what kind of you know, equipment are you talking 43 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: and what kind of vehicles, what kind of aircraft. There's 44 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people that listen to this show that 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: are going to be watching the skies and wanting to 46 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: know what they might see. 47 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 2: There's a very active aircraft spotting community in Darwin. I 48 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 2: think what you're going to see for the first time 49 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: ever is Norwegian's coming with will be half a dozen 50 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: Norwegian F thirty five's alongside the myriad of capabilities that 51 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 2: we have. You're going to see all of the ground 52 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: vehicles that you'd normally see. The difference is they're reservists 53 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 2: from Melbourne and South Australia. We're really fortunate to host 54 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: His Majesty's ship Prince of Wales and the UK Carrier 55 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: Strike Group, which is on its maiden voyage and indeed 56 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 2: the first time they've been into the Indo Pacific. So 57 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: they'll come into Darwin at the back end of the 58 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: exercise and I think for most territorians and visitors it 59 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 2: will be exciting to see something different such as a 60 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: United Kingdom carrier. 61 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: How important are exercises like this, particularly when we see 62 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: what is unfolding in Iran at the moment. 63 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: Yet, so every activity we do is focused on preparing 64 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: for our mission, which is to defend Australia and its 65 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 2: national interests. So Talisman Saber is no different. The important 66 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: part of those nine een nations participating in the exercise 67 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: is we need to work together. We need to train 68 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: together so that in times of need or times of 69 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: requirement to cooperate, we're able to do so easily. And 70 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: it's it's a credit to all of those nations that 71 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: we're able to come together and operate so effectively. So 72 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: every time we can train is a good time to train. 73 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: Are you able to tell us anything about the kinds 74 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: of scenario is that you're going to be sort of 75 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: training for, or you know what the exercise looks like. 76 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: I suppose yes. So there's fourteen lines of effort, which 77 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: is a lot over eight hundred activities. So some of 78 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 2: the activities in the East Coast where we traditionally have 79 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: run Talisman Saber amphibious, so practicing ship to share maneuver 80 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: what we call large scale combat combat operations, so very 81 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 2: much on the land. The first Brigade Marine Rotation Force 82 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: Darwin and the like will operate out of Bradshaw and 83 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: Townsville and down in Sholwoda Bay. You're going to see 84 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: live fire events, so we will fire Australia's high Mass 85 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 2: for the first time in Sholoda Bay beginning of it, 86 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 2: as well as some really exciting life fire And I'm 87 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 2: not going to give everything all, but certainly as it 88 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: comes out, you're going to see some great activities and 89 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 2: there'll be a lot of aircraft in the sky. You know, 90 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 2: it's not pitch black, but I'm trying my best to 91 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: con peat with it. 92 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: Will so there'll be plenty happening, no doubt about it. 93 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: What's it like for you, you know, directing this and 94 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: organizing everything, particularly when you've got such a large number 95 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: of people involved, and you know you've spoken about all 96 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: the equipment, all the different aircraft, all, you know, like 97 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: everything involved. 98 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: What's it like trying to organize. 99 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: All of that. Well. 100 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: I used to be blonde haired, blue eye, so as 101 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 2: you can see, I don't have any hair left now. 102 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: Listen. 103 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: It's a great privilege to be given this task. I 104 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 2: really enjoy it. It takes us two years to plan 105 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: to execute it. It feels like I'm planning it in 106 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 2: the last fourteen days. But the team, very small, team, 107 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: highly professional. We do this for a living. It's exciting 108 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: and it's always good to push the boundaries of what 109 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: we need to do and help the ADF actually enhance 110 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: the capability. So Tao Saba is a focus for modernization. 111 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of firsts occurring on Talisman Saber 112 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 2: twenty five, there'll be over fifty and the most importantly, 113 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: a lot of seconds and thirds. So we've learned, we've 114 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: inculcated training, and we're now enhancing. 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: What we do now in terms of what territorians can 116 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: expect to see while it's all happening. I mean you 117 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: mentioned additional aircraft out like what else? What will be 118 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: the highlights? I suppose for those out there listening, if 119 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: they want to keep an eye out. 120 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: What's going to be difficult for me to say that 121 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: because if you're an aircraft spotterer, it's nirvana because you're 122 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: going to see F thirty five, fad and super hornets. 123 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: You're going to see C seventeen's are plenty C one thirties. 124 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: If you love ships, we're going to see capabilities from 125 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: the UK Canada, Norway, Australia and the United States. If 126 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: you just like trucks, you're going to see every truck 127 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: the Australian Defense Force zones in some way, shape or 128 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 2: form in the community. And importantly we're practicing some tasks 129 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: to defend critical assets. So our reserve units that we 130 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 2: call the Secure Task Force will be in the community 131 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 2: patrolling and practicing doing the types of tasks that we 132 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: might expect of them in times of uncertainty. 133 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: Well, Damien Hill, Talisman Sabers twenty twenty five, Exercise Director, 134 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: it is wonderful to talk to you this morning. Thank 135 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: you very much for joining us and really letting our 136 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: listeners know what they can expect when the exercise gets 137 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: underway from the thirteenth of July to the fourth of 138 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: August this year. Thanks k, thank you, thanks so much.