Australia and the US have concluded the bilateral combined training exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19) in the Port of Brisbane in Australia.

The biennial exercise is Australia’s largest bilateral defence exercise with the US and is designed to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between the two countries.

TS19 began last month and is the eighth iteration of the exercise with a focus on planning and conducting combined and joint task force operations.

During the course of the exercise, the forces took part in combat scenarios at sea, on land and in the air.

The exercise involved force preparation (logistic) activities, amphibious landings, land force manoeuvre, urban operations, air operations, maritime operations and special forces activities.

More than 1,000 personnel from the US and Australia were on board the USS Wasp at the ceremony to mark the completion of TS19.

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Australia Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said: “This premier military engagement reflects the strength of the Australia-US alliance and the closeness of our military-to-military relationship.

“This was the biggest exercise to date, encompassing over 34,000 personnel, 22 ships and over 200 aircraft.”

This year’s Talisman Sabre exercise also involved participation from Japan, Canada, the UK and New Zealand.

Joint Operations deputy chief major general Roger Noble said: “In addition to the objectives and missions completed throughout the exercise, it has been invaluable to share and exchange different ways of working alongside our biggest defence ally.”

The majority of exercise activities were conducted in the existing ADF Shoalwater Bay Training Area and surrounding region in Central Queensland.

As part of the Combined Joint Forcible Entry Operations, the forces conducted a multinational amphibious landing in Stanage Bay, Queensland.