The Australian Defence Force is aiming for high-end capabilities by engaging in an increasing range of demanding exercises, and the latest ‘Talisman Sabre’ underscored this progress.
A 90th FS ‘Dicemen’ F-22A Raptor takes off from RAAF Base Amberley during ‘Talisman Sabre 2019’.
ADF/Cpl Jesse Kane
TALISMAN SABRE’ IS an exercise that is growing in stature. The 2019 iteration was the largest to date, bringing together the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) alongside US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps assets to ‘fight’ collectively against a simulated enemy, in order to gain and maintain air superiority in a high-end confrontation. As Col Brian ‘Barley’ Baldwin, 13th Air Expeditionary Group commander (representing the USAF in this exercise) explained to Combat Aircraft, ‘The US Air Force is a product of its own success.
