HMAS Hobart has joined Exercise La Perouse 25, a French-led multilateral maritime training activity in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, Australian Defence Magazine reports.
During the exercise, 12 ships and more than 30 aircraft will practice maritime interoperability missions, including multi-domain and simulated warfare training, boarding operations, live fire exercises, and air-based search and rescue procedures.
The exercise involves participants from Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and United States, including the French Navy aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said the exercise would deepen cooperation with France and strengthen shared engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific.
“Multilateral exercises like La Perouse 25 highlight our shared security interests, and allow the Australian Defence Force to strengthen cooperation and build interoperability with other nations through a live training environment,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“Australia’s security and prosperity lies in the Indo-Pacific, and the experience gained through this exercise ensures we can collectively maintain peace, security and prosperity in the region.”
Commanding Officer of HMAS Hobart Commander Alisha Withers said La Perouse 25 was the largest iteration of the exercise in its history.
“The whole ship’s company is excited to put our training to the test during such a challenging but rewarding event,” Commander Withers said.
“It’s also a great honour to work alongside the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, especially as it is the first time this carrier strike group has deployed to the Indo‑Pacific region.”
Exercise La Perouse 25, the first major multi-national exercise on Defence’s 2025 calendar, is also the first key event for Hobart during its three-month Regional Presence Deployment.
