Around 80 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to Japan last month to participate in Exercise Keen Sword – a biennial Japan-US exercise focusing on the defence of Japan.
This year’s Keen Sword included 12,000 US and 33,000 Japanese troops, 40 vessels and 370 aircraft. The ADF contingent included two RAAF P-8A Poseidon and crews, civil-military cooperation personnel, and amphibious landing observers.
Keen Sword forces worked together on a range of activities relating to air defence, logistics, maritime operations, and crisis response exercises including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, recognised the shared commitment by Australia and Japan to strengthen collective deterrence and safeguard the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
“Japan is an indispensable partner for Australia and we welcomed the opportunity to continue our military engagements after the successful conduct of Exercise Keen Edge in February this year,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“Our contribution of personnel and aircraft demonstrates our continued commitment to Japan and supports our ongoing shared vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Commander of the Australian Contingent, Wing Commander Adam Saber, said Keen Sword provided valuable opportunities to train alongside partners focusing on a broad range of contingencies.
“Keen Sword demonstrated an increasing complexity in our military relationship with Japan, from higher end warfighting to homeland defence,” Wing Commander Saber said.
“The exercise was a great opportunity to hone our own skills across that spectrum, both in mainland Japan and its surrounding islands.”
Keen Sword concluded on 1 November 2024.
