Command teams from six nations met at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin to conduct harbour briefings for Exercise Kakadu on March 16. The combined task group comprises one Australian and five international fleet units scheduled to transit together from Darwin to Sydney Harbour.
Led by the Australian landing ship dock HMAS Choules, the group includes vessels from India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. These maritime integration training scenarios will take place as the ships navigate through Australian waters, the Royal Australian Navy reported.
During the transit, the participating navies will conduct serials aimed at strengthening collective readiness and interoperability. Captain Darin MacDonald, the Commander of the Australian Maritime Task Group, mentioned that the briefings were vital for the safe and timely execution of the voyage.
The Royal Australian Navy noted that exercising with regional partners builds mutual understanding between the forces.
MacDonald further remarked that such activities strengthen the ability of the nations, “to operate together at sea,” while also improving interoperability. The biennial Exercise Kakadu serves to bolster maritime security cooperation and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
This year marks the 17th iteration of the multinational engagement which is expected to involve more than 6,000 members from Australia and 18 partner nations, according to the Royal Australian Navy. The participants are currently preparing for the Kakadu fleet review following the completion of their maritime transit.
