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Australia and Japan have engaged in maritime warfare training in a bid to bolster Indo-Pacific security co-operation.
The Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigate HMAS Warramunga and its embarked MH-60 Seahawk helicopter have joined Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Murasame Class destroyer JS Inazuma for Exercise NICHI GOU TRIDENT.
The vessels engaged in a range of maritime warfare serials, navigating in-company and aviation operations off the coast of Japan.
The exercise aimed to bolster interoperability between the nations, supporting joint regional security efforts.
“Japan is a special strategic partner, and shares our democratic values, commitment to a rules-based global order and desire to support a safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond said.
“By working together often in different maritime environments, we enhance our joint capability and ensure the compatibility of systems.”
The naval forces conducted the inaugural Australia-Japan Asset Protection Mission, under Article 95-2 of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces Law.
“It’s co-operation like this that enables us to take our interoperability to the next level,” RADM Hammond added.
This was the latest collaboration between the RAN and JMSDF this year, following Exercises Malabar, Talisman Sabre, Pacific Vanguard, ARC-21 and La Perouse.
[Related: RAN wraps up multinational subs exercise]
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