Giant US-UK armada takes to water in ‘Talisman Sabre' show of force with aircraft carriers shrouded by fighter jet fleet
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
AN IMPOSING US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills.
The impervious aircraft carriers and fighter jet fleets are taking part in live-fire exercises in Australia which include 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
9
An imposing US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills
Credit: SWNS
9
Aircraft carriers USS George Washington (top) and HMS Prince of Wales (bottom) sail in formation with US and UK warships
Credit: SWNS
9
35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations took part in the Australian drills
Credit: SWNS
Australia marked the historic event, the largest war drills in their history, by firing missiles from its M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
The HIMARS launchers were recently bought from the US and were unleashed today at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland.
Elsewhere, a striking display of allied naval might saw the UK and US deploy their USS George Washington and the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers.
The UK - who sent over 3,000 troops - also used vessels such as HMS Richmond, HMS Dauntless, RFA Fort Victoria, and RFA Argus for the exercise.
read more in war drills
SEA OF STEEL Watch as huge fleet of terrifying new Chinese 'tank boats' takes to water
The expansive multinational flotilla was shadowed by warships from Canada, Norway, and Australia as well.
The huge fleet were paired up with air operations and joint ground manoeuvres which took place across Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland.
Brigadier Nick Wilson told reporters after the drills: "Today was the first time the Australian Army has live-fired our long-range, multi-domain platforms being the HIMARS, so it is a remarkable day."
British Defence Secretary John Healey added: "The historic bonds between Britain and Australia run deep, and through AUKUS and exercises like Talisman Sabre we are strengthening these ties for the challenges of tomorrow.
"Our commitment to the Indo-Pacific is unwavering, as this huge military exercise demonstrates.
"We will continue to work alongside our closest allies to maintain the security and stability that underpins global prosperity."
Britain pledges more support to Ukraine as NATO warships prepare for largest drills since Cold War
Talisman Sabre has been a major biennial joint exercise ever since it was first announced in 2005 between the US and Australia.
This year saw dozens of other countries take part such as Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea among others.
The drills stretched all the way from Darwin to Brisbane as the allies imposed themselves across the Indo-Pacific.
The waters are often closely monitored by Chinese surveillance ships.
Beijing has kept a watchful eye over any naval exercises off the Australian coast during the last four Talisman Sabre exercises dating back to 2017.
Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said he expects China to monitor them again this time around.
Conroy said: "We'll adjust accordingly. We'll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia.
"But we'll also adjust how we conduct those exercises."
9
U.S. Navy aircraft and the George Washington Carrier participate in the dual carrier operations
Credit: SWNS
9
A US F18 launches from US Aircraft Carrier, USS George Washington
Credit: SWNS
9
An Australian soldier from the 1st Military Police Battalion is seen participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025
Credit: Getty
It all comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a six-day visit to China of his own.
He is expected to hold a fourth face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.
Albanese said despite Chinese surveillance being a concern, he would not raise it as an issue amid the Talisman Sabre operations.
China has been routinely trying to scare the West through their own military drills in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, dramatic footage captured a fleet of Chinese tank boats charging through the sea in tight formation near Taiwan.
And China's new giant "sea monster" warplane was spotted for the first time in the Bohai Sea.
These developments have raised fears that a Chinese invasion on Taiwan could be imminent.
Bringing the self-governed province back in line with mainland China has been a goal of president Xi Jinping's for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force.
The self-governing nation has been protected by the firepower of ally America for decades.
The latest Talisman Sabre drills will give Taiwan further hope of protection from not only the US but also the entire allied fleet.
The exercises are also aimed towards striking fear into other Western allies such as North Korea and Russia.
Russia's relationship with Europe has drastically worsened as Vladimir Putin continues to defy all warnings and continue with his deadly invasion of Ukraine.
But even Vlad, with all his firepower and huge army, faces a serious battle against a unified West due to his lack of aircraft carriers.
Russia only boasts a single rustbucket carrier - but even that is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs.
Putin's 'Ship of Shame' has played no role in the war against Ukraine and has instead been languishing in the grim Arctic port of Murmansk, in northwestern Russia.
9
A terrifying fleet of Chinese tank boats seen charging through the sea near to Taiwan earlier this month
Credit: X
9
Vladimir Putin's only rustbucket aircraft carrier is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs - leaving the despot vulnerable
Credit: EPA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
BMA's failure to allow treatment during strike is wrecking patients' lives & playing God with their medical conditions
Doctors can't just refuse to do duty THE wait for a cancer diagnosis is one of the most agonising experiences of anyone's life. So a Milton Keynes hospital trust made a plea to the striking BMA union to allow treatment of six patients who had steeled themselves for their biopsies. 1 Shamefully, their response was no. We knew the union's leaders were grasping mercenaries in their pursuit of a fantasy 29 per cent pay claim. Now we know they are capable of inhuman cruelty too. It was only thanks to the heroic decision of one of their own members to break the strike that the patients got the treatment they needed. The BMA's decision was based on the fact there was no direct clinical risk because none of the patients had as yet been diagnosed with cancer. Crystal clear evidence that the union is not only wrecking patients' lives but also playing God with their medical conditions. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, himself a former cancer sufferer, says: 'It is completely unacceptable for the BMA to dismiss the mental anguish a delayed diagnosis can have on people and families.'' Spot on, Wes. Extremist fanatics have no right to dictate whether someone should be tested for cancer or not. And every grotesque BMA decision that harms patients must be ruthlessly exposed. Take Don's advice PM Since his election, Mr Trump has wasted no time in reducing the hordes arriving in the US to a trickle and deporting tens of thousands more. Meanwhile, Sir Keir seems unable to get to grips with the crisis over here. The two leaders will no doubt be discussing vital matters such as Gaza and the UK-US trade deal when they meet tomorrow. But Sir Keir should put learning lessons on migration at the top of the agenda. Help on high streets BUSINESS Secretary Jonny Reynolds has revealed the Government plans to give the nation's struggling high streets a shot in the arm in the autumn budget. Welcome words. We have warned for years that the sector was on its knees. But for many pubs and restaurants, Labour's tax hikes have already proved the final nail in the coffin.
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
The two party system is obliterated, welcome to Balkans Britain
IF Labour and the Tories were High Street jewellers, then they would both be Ratner's. Their brands are tainted, their names are mud, their future uncertain. 7 7 For a century Labour and the Tories were the Tiffany and Cartier of our proud old democracy. Then they both did a Ratner. The Tories took 14 years to deeply disappoint the British people. Labour has managed to make the nation despair in closer to 14 months. And their good old days of swapping power every few years are over. Welcome to Balkan s Britain. Balkan-isation refers to the process where a state irrevocably shatters into many smaller states. That is exactly what is happening right now to traditional British politics. The two-party system is obliterated, and there are bits and pieces all over the carpet. The disintegration of our body politic reached new heights this week with the resurrection of Jeremy Corbyn and the launch of his new leftier- than-thou party — provisionally named 'Your Party' (not mine, never mine). Now Labour can't chuckle about the Tories warily looking over their right shoulder at Reform. Inside UK's 1st Reform pub with £2 pints, boozers drinking 'Remainer tears' & even Corbyn's allowed in, on one condition Because Labour are looking over their left shoulder at Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party. And everybody has to fear losing support to the Greens, Lib Dems and Monster Raving Loony Party. And will the fragmentation of our old two-party system be good for our country? Will Reform's right-wing firebrands draining support from the Tories and Corbyn's full-fat comrades nicking support from Labour make us a healthier, happier country? Fingers crossed, eh? But those of us who care about our country far more than we do, any political party should not dance too gleefully on the freshly dug grave of the two-party system. Because effective government ALWAYS comes from a broad church of opinions. Tony Blair's New Labour had room in its ranks for both Peter Mandelson and Dennis 'Beast of Bolsover' Skinner — slinky capitalist and old-school socialist. Maggie Thatcher had room in her Cabinet for both Michael Heseltine and Norman Tebbit — fanatical pro-European and unapologetic patriot. It is impossible to imagine either of the two big parties being quite so broadminded these days. Corbyn and Farage have this in common — they are both profoundly anti-establishment. Yet one of them could wield power after the next General Election, even if it is lording over some fractious coalition. Then Nigel might find that shipping hardcore criminals to El Salvador is easier said than done. And Jeremy might discover that ranting about the wickedness of the filthy rich does absolutely nothing for the British economy. And when the old two-party system is buried forever, you and I may even start to miss it. Romance in air? Liam's just being hammy with Pammy LIAM NEESON and Pamela Anderson are promoting their reboot of The Naked Gun – and old romantics are suggesting there may be a spark of real-life romance between this lovely couple. Liam, 73, confessed in a recent interview that he was 'madly in love' with the former Baywatch babe, 58. A confession that makes me believe there is absolutely no late-life love story going on between them. USYK'S GOT BIT OF ALI I REMEMBER my mum and dad had mixed feelings when Henry Cooper fought Muhammad Ali for the second time. Naturally my folks wanted the local lad – our Henry – to win. 7 But there was a big part of their hearts that always belonged to Muhammad Ali. And so it is with Oleksandr Usyk, who knocked out Daniel Dubois last weekend to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Even if you want the Brit to win, you can't help but admire their opponent. Because both Ali and Usyk fought for a higher cause than their own career. Muhammad Ali fought racism. Oleksandr Usyk is the living embodiment of Ukraine's defiance in the face of Russia's murderous invasion. Usyk has now beaten the cream of British boxing – Daniel Dubois (twice), Tyson Fury (twice), Anthony Joshua (twice), Derek Chisora and Tony Bellew. Muhammad Ali beat Henry Cooper (twice), Joe Bugner (twice), Brian London and Richard Dunn. But Ali was always loved in this country. As so is Usyk. 'UK is my second home,' says Usyk. 'I love UK.' The feeling is mutual, champ. Glory to Ukraine. ORVILLE the Duck is being branded a 'nappy-wearing perv' after revelations about inappropriate behaviour. TV's Mel and Sue revealed that they were co-hosting Channel 4's Light Lunch in 1997 when ventriloquist Keith Harris (and Orville) became as over-familiar with Mel as Rod Hull (and Emu) got with Michael Parkinson 20 years earlier. 7 'Keith Harris got a bit naughty with Sue!' Mel revealed. 'Well, Orville did! Yes, Orville got a bit naughty Nineties.' I believe Keith Harris, who died in 2015, should carry the can. He was the one with his hand up the green duck's Wembley Way. Look at those eyes. Orville is innocent. TELL IT LIKE IT KISS 'RIGHT then, do we have any lovebirds in the house?' asked Liam Gallagher on stage in Manchester. 'Don't worry, we ain't got none of that snidey Coldplay f***ing camera s**t. Doesn't matter to us who you're mingling with or tingling with – none of our f***ing business.' 7 Beautifully put, Liam. Our kid is right to be outraged at the use of kiss cams at concerts. After the Coldplay farrago, it is worth recalling that the kiss cam only began life in California in the Eighties, taking advantage of new-fangled giant video screens at sporting events. The kiss cam was introduced as a way to stop crowds nodding off at baseball and American football games. As Liam points out, it is weird that the kiss cam should become a feature of concerts. There is nothing even remotely rock and roll about it. But of course that's also true of Coldplay. BOB DYLAN – 84! – returns to the UK in November, and once again no phones will be allowed at his shows. That must feel weird for anyone below the age of about 30. To the rest of us, a phone-free night watching Dylan feels gloriously liberating. COP SHOP ROT 'E-SCOOTERS can be a great way to get around,' says a government spokesman. This is especially true if you want to steal somebody's phone, a crime now so widespread that last year £50million worth of phones were snatched in London alone. Most of those phones are never recovered. Just as most burglaries – almost 82 per cent – are never solved. Just as most shoplifters – now three thefts a minute! – never get a slap on the wrist. Nigel Farage is right – this country feels increasingly lawless. But there was one thing Farage neglected to mention in his bid to make Reform the party of law and order. Two-thirds of police stations in England have closed since 2010. This is where the rot begins. This is where our rising crime rates took root. When police stations went the same way as Woolworths.
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Pubs, clubs & shops set for tax cuts, says Business Secretary Jonny Reynolds as he vows to make Britain ‘fun' again
PUBS, clubs and shops are set to get tax cuts in the Budget, Business Secretary Jonny Reynolds has revealed. He also vowed to make Britain 'fun' again as he unveiled sweeping reforms to tear up red tape so boozers and cafes can open in empty shops and have outside dining. 2 In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, he admitted businesses have been hit hard by the hike in NICs taxes saying 'there is a cost - you can't deny that'. But he vowed to slash levies on high street firms with 'permanent' cuts to business rates in this year's Budget - expected in November. Mr Reynolds said: 'We would want to reduce the burden on businesses wherever we can, because we want them investing in people - new jobs, solid wages.' He added: 'The objective is permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure. 'It is a disproportionate tax burden. I believe the objective is to have that in the Autumn Budget.' Ministers have been consulting on how to reform business rates to make the tax fairer. Mr Reynolds also announced a radical shake-up of planning rules to slash red tape on pubs and clubs. Boozers, cafes and music venues will be able to open in closed down shops. New 'hospitality zones' will be created where it will be easier for venues to open late, let people dine outside and throw street parties. Nimbies will be stopped from closing down well-loved venues with noise complaints, he added. Pub chain collapses into administration as SIX sites shut their doors for good and 159 job losses Banging the drum for more fun in our city centres, Mr Reynolds declared: 'We want to take the burden off the kind of things businesses can do to grow and employ more people. 'We want more enjoyment and more fun in town centres.' Mr Reynolds also blasted leftie Labour MPs demanding a wealth tax - and warned they are putting investors off the UK. Branding the demands 'not a serious take', he added: 'If people worry the UK is thinking of a tax that doesn't exist anywhere in the world, that is not good for the UK - and people will think twice if that's the case.' Hospitality bosses welcomed the plans to slash red tape - but warned sky-high taxes are crippling high streets. Kate Nicholls, chair of UK Hospitality, said: 'Positive and encouraging as these measures certainly are, they can't on their own offset the immediate and mounting cost pressures facing hospitality businesses which threaten to tax out of existence the businesses and jobs. 'Let's hope that this is just the start of a bold, long term plan for the high streets and hospitality.' 2
