Exercise Talisman Sabre taking place from June to August in Bowen

Exercise Talisman Sabre is designed to test our respective forces in planning and conducting multinational and multi-service operations and improve the readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces and other partner nations. Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre reflects the closeness of our alliance and strength of our enduring military relationship with the United States and also our commitment to working with likeminded partners in the region.

Talisman Sabre 23 will be the tenth and largest iteration of the exercise and consists of a Field Training Exercise incorporating logistics activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvre, and air combat and maritime operations. More than 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the United States and 12 other nations will directly participate in TS23 with other nations attending the exercise as observers.

Bowen is one of the most critical training areas for the testing a large force entering an area of operation and deploying further forward. The maritime approaches to Bowen mean the training audience can transport a significant fighting force from ship to shore via a temporary pier facility so that it can move north towards Townsville where the bulk of the land combat phase of the exercise will take place. This activity will largely comprise United Sates Military personnel with Australian personnel supporting.

Residents of Bowen and the surrounding areas will likely notice a significant number of US service personnel in the area from mid-June as they come ashore and Defence asks locals to mindful of staying safe around large military convoys on public roads. Bowen will also play host to Australian personnel conducting Exercises Sea Explorer and Sea Raider in the lead up to Talisman Sabre 23, reflecting the importance of community support for ADF field training.

Defence thank the community and stakeholders of Bowen who have helped us shape a safe and productive Talisman Sabre. Read more about the exercise here: www.defence.gov.au/exercises/talisman-sabre

Please refer to below map for the maritime exclusion zone on Kings Beach Bowen during the period of this exercise.