Earlier this month the destroyer HMAS Sydney joined a multinational task group to conduct cooperative activities in the Pacific Ocean. Participants included the flagship of the Italian navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour, the frigate ITS Alpino, and the multi-purpose combat ship ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli, the Japanese helicopter carrier JS Izumo and the destroyer JS Onami, the French frigate FS Bretagne and the German support ship FGS Frankfurt am Main and frigate FGS Baden-Wurttemberg.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney Commander Grant Coleman said working with partner nations enabled Australia to deepen its military-to-military relationships. “While we often work with our French partners in the Pacific, the opportunity to integrate with the Italian and German navies does not often arise due to our geographical distances, but over recent years they’ve participated in more activities together in the Indo-Pacific region. Enhancing our relationships with allies and regional partners such as Japan through cooperative activities like this allows us to strengthen our interoperability.”
In addition from 8-11 September, units from the US and Italy navies, alongside the Royal Australia Air Force conducted a multilateral exercise in the South China Sea in support of “a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
Participants included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell, RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and the Italian ships Cavour, Alpino and Raimondo Montecuccoli.
“These multilateral exercises are a concrete demonstration of the advances we are making alongside our allies and partners in the region,” said Vice Admiral Kacher, commander, US 7th Fleet. “They present dynamic opportunities to hone our skills in one of the most complex maritime regions in the world.”
The nations conducted fixed-wing air defence and combined anti-submarine warfare exercises, as well as subject matter expert exchanges across the participating ships.
“This multilateral exercise has been another great opportunity to highlight the professionalism of our crews and the ability to join, train and be ready to operate together, projecting our forces for months, away from home,” said Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina, Commander, Italian Carrier Strike Group. “Another demonstration of the strong determination and commitment that exists among allies and partners everywhere in the world. Our cohesion and integration in the planning and preparation of the serial activities allowed us to work as a tight and strong team, synergizing our efforts and enhancing the value of multinational cooperation and proving the existing and effective interoperability among our forces”.
The ships also exercised interoperable skills in command and control, tactics, and anti-surface warfare. “These types of activities demonstrate our collective commitment to regional and international cooperation to support an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Joint Force Air Component Commander Air Commodore Michael Grant said. “By training and operating together, our forces can build upon shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges.”
Sources: RAN and USN
