Sailors and pilots from around the world have fought mock battles and simulated maritime operations as part of Exercise Kakadu off the Northern Territory coast.

September 23, 2022

Thousands of sailors, pilots, submariners and defence experts have sharpened their skills in the biggest naval war games ever held in Australian waters.

About 3000 personnel from 20 countries have crewed destroyers, frigates, corvettes, a submarine and aircraft during two weeks of mock sea battles and other activities off the Northern Territory coast to strengthen regional partnerships.

“During (Exercise) Kakadu, the frigates and destroyers (have been) conducting maritime warfare training, to defend themselves from threats in the air and from other ships and submarines,” Royal Australian Navy Commodore Paul O’Grady said.

Patrol boats have also participated, with border protection and constabulary exercises to better target activities such as illegal fishing.

“All the units will (also) practise humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery and rendering assistance to ships that are distressed or disabled at sea,” Cdre O’Grady said.

This year’s event is one of the biggest since the exercise started in 1993 with defence personnel from the Indo-Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas taking part.

“One of the really exciting opportunities at Kakadu is to train and operate with partners and nations we don’t often get to, particularly after the COVID pandemic,” Cdre O’Grady said.

Their training included gunnery and missiles, anti-submarine warfare and air defence exercises as well as group manoeuvres, diving and counter-piracy operations.

Warships have also practised firing their guns and defending themselves against jet fighters simulating guided missiles from sophisticated P-8 maritime patrol aircraft or from a submarine.

Exercise participants have also completed a so-called “harbour phase” which included briefings, a fleet commanders and senior leaders conference, cultural events, sports and social functions.

All told, 18 surface ships, one submarine and more than 30 aircraft have taken part in Exercise Kakadu 22, which concludes on Saturday.