Fresh off a build-up exercise with their Australian counterparts, around 300 NZ Army personnel had a quick turnaround before this year’s biggest warfighting test, while Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force crews have been prepping.
The NZ Army Combat Team – made up of infantry, armor, artillery, engineers, signals and logistics personnel – finished its build-up Exercise Diamond Strike, where they fine-tuned their interoperability and battlefield connections with their Australian ally and other key partners, before turning to the much bigger Talisman Sabre 25, which involves 19 countries and more than 30,000 personnel.
The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and aircraft from both No 3 and No 5 Squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as well as other personnel and assets from both services are also taking part in the exercise.
A Royal New Zealand Navy mine countermeasures (MCM) team from HMNZS Matataua is already at sea off the coast of Queensland on a US naval vessel before returning to conduct an operational scenario with Australian and United States explosive ordnance team and MCM teams in the strategic port of Gladstone.
RNZN frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, fresh from a deployment with the UK Carrier Strike Group, will be exercising with maritime units from other participating countries in the Coral Sea protecting and defending key sea lanes from opposing forces.
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) crews from both the P-8A Poseidon aircraft and NH90 helicopters have also spent time prepping their aircraft for the exercise, including NH90 Helicopter crews integrating with the Australian Army.