Australia’s premier maritime warfare activity, Exercise Kakadu has begun in Darwin with warships and personnel from over thirty nations participating.
Held biennially, Kakadu is the Royal Australian Navy’s premier international engagement activity, developing interoperability between nations in the maritime and air domains, and providing training opportunities for maritime security and surveillance.
This year’s iteration, scheduled for Sept. 9-20, will involve 13 warships and aircraft from navies and air forces representing 11 countries.
The exercise is held concurrently with a commanders’ conference, where military leaders from more than 30 countries are represented.
Growing in size and complexity since its inception in 1993, this year’s exercise includes warships, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft from participating nations with more than 3,000 uniformed personnel are converging upon the Darwin area.
Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO RAN, welcomed participants and acknowledged the valuable partnerships that would be forged during the exercise.
“Kakadu is the largest and most significant international exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, it deepens relationships and interoperability between participating armed forces. Australia is a maritime nation that, like our neighbours, derives prosperity from access to the sea – assured by a strong Navy and strong partnerships.” Vice Admiral Hammond said.
“Kakadu provides an excellent opportunity for officers, sailors and aviators to practice their skills in a range of tactical maritime activities. This year the focus is on interoperability with greater integration of our international partners in all aspects of the exercise”, he added.
Building on the success of 2022, this year’s exercise will feature a multinational Exercise Control element housed at RAAF Base Darwin to coordinate air, sea and subsurface activities across the full spectrum or maritime warfare from mission planning and constabulary operations up to high end anti-submarine warfare and air defence exercises.
“There’s no economic security without maritime security,” Vice Admiral Hammond said.
“Each of the countries participating in Kakadu is united in this perspective and our shared commitment to keeping our nations safe, secure, and strong.”
The theme for this year’s exercise is ‘Regional Cooperation through Trusted and Proven Partnerships’.
The at-sea exercise program is complimented by a harbour phase comprising of briefings, a Fleet Commanders and Senior Leaders’ conference, ceremonies, and cultural, social and sporting events.
Representing the RAN are the Anzac-class frigates HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) and HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152), a Collins-class submarine, and aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, while the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) is representing the U.S. Navy.
