India participated for the first time in Talisman Sabre 2025 (T25), a multinational military exercise led by Australia. T25 is the 11th edition of the biennial exercise and the largest and most advanced warfighting drill ever held on Australian soil. Over 35,000 personnel from 19 nations participated in the drill, with India’s inclusion marking a strategic step in its Indo-Pacific engagement.
Talisman Sabre 2025 Highlights
Participating Countries in T25
- Main military partners: Australia, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Fiji, Norway, Netherlands, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and India.
- Observer nations: Malaysia, Vietnam.
Exercise Locations
- Conducted across multiple locations in Australia:
- Queensland
- Northern Territory
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Christmas Island
- For the first time, activities also extended outside Australia to Papua New Guinea, reflecting broader Indo-Pacific security cooperation.
Key Features of Talisman Sabre 2025
- Live-Fire Exercises – Simulating real combat scenarios with operational weapon systems.
- Field Training Exercises – Combat drills testing coordination, logistics, maneuverability.
- Force Preparation Activities – Readiness checks before deployment.
- Amphibious Landings – Naval deployment of troops/equipment on contested shores.
- Ground Force Manoeuvres – Strategic movement and land-based combat tactics.
- Air Combat & Maritime Ops – Dogfights, anti-submarine warfare, naval fleet protection.
- New Defence Systems Demonstrated:
- UH-60M Black Hawks – Advanced utility helicopters. US-origin helicopter with modern avionics
- Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) – Long-range, high-accuracy missile for strategic deterrence. It is US Army’s long-range missile replacing ATACMS
Multi-Domain Operations
T25 focused on interoperability and joint warfare across:
- Air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains
- Supported the vision of a Free, Open & Inclusive Indo-Pacific
Significance of India’s Participation
- First-ever Indian participation signifies India’s rising profile in regional security architecture.
- Aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and strategic goals to:
- Enhance military interoperability with partner nations.
- Boost defence diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
- Promote freedom of navigation, rule-based order in Indo-Pacific.
Key Facts
- India’s participation aligns with its Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
- Talisman Sabre is held biennially (every two years).
- The 2023 edition was the 10th iteration.
- The exercise typically includes naval, air, land, cyber, and space components.