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NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia – U.S. Pacific Air Forces executed numerous multi-domain flying missions from bases across the Northern Territory and Western Australia during Talisman Sabre 25.
Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between the U.S. and Australia, that advances a safe and secure Indo-Pacific region by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.
The primary PACAF exercise objective was to increase joint interoperability in every aspect of joint air operations. The exercise provided PACAF with an opportunity to execute agile operations on a scale rarely seen across an expansive geographical area.
U.S. Air Force members from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Guam Air National Guard, McGuire Air Force Base, and Travis Air Force Base participated in numerous regions in Australia for the exercise.
Aircraft such as the USAF F-22 Raptor, KC-135 Stratotanker, and KC-46 Pegasus, delivered advanced combat capabilities and logistical support across long distances.
Aerial refueling played a key role in sustaining long-range operations. The KC-46 Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker enabled extended mission duration through mid-air refueling, supported by ground crews who ensured rapid turnaround of a wide variety of U.S. airframes. Altogether, they achieved 35 launches and offloaded over 1.1 million pounds of fuel to 143 U.S. and ally receiver aircraft, assisting the F-22 Raptor aircraft and crews to complete 64 sorties over a three week period.
Members of the PACAF Mission Support Group also deployed to Australia, bringing together a diverse team of experts in contracting, security forces, services, aerial port operations, communications, ground transportation, fuels, and personnel support for contingency operations . Their presence aimed to strengthen interoperability between U.S. and Australian counterparts by ensuring mission readiness though providing essential base support capabilities.
Additionally, USAF security forces members worked with Royal Australian Air Force security forces members at multiple bases across the Northern Territory of Australia.
“We have U.S. Airmen defending the inner perimeter of the base with your defenders,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Shannon Smith, 13th Air Expeditionary Task Force commander. “It does not get any better than real world integration and getting the job done.”
A unique component to Talisman Sabre 25 was an international interfly that involved U.S. F-35A Lightning II pilots flying Australian F-35 aircraft, a first in PACAF history.
“Interfly events like this allow us to exchange information and best practices,” said Maj. Justin “Spike” Lennon, 48th Fighter Wing F-35A evaluator pilot. “In the long term, as a coalition, normalizing interfly gives commanders additional options for agility and versatility in a future conflict. In a prolonged conflict airplanes are capable of flying more hours a day than a pilot. Having the added flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35 and generate combat airpower anywhere in the world adds to the F-35 coalition’s lethality.”
Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise, requiring year-round collaboration between the U.S., Australia, and other allied partners to ensure every element is aligned and mission-ready.
“The Airmen are getting the job done and it is no easy task,” Smith said. “I can tell you that if you train and equip Airmen, they will find a way. They become highly skilled and highly motivated, and by necessity, they become highly innovative. We are seeing it every single day at Talisman Sabre 25.”
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2025 01:00 |
| Story ID: | 543945 |
| Location: | NORTHERN TERRITORY, AU |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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