DND Press Release
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is deploying approximately 600 personnel to participate in the largest-ever iteration of Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 (Ex TS25) from July 13 to August 4, 2025. This exercise will take place in and around Australia and for the first time, in Papua New Guinea.
Hosted biennially by Australia, Exercise TALISMAN SABRE brings together over 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations for advanced multinational training. This year’s iteration will feature large-scale warfighting exercises, including firepower demonstrations, tactical sustainment rehearsals, and joint operations across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains.
Ex TS25 marks Canada’s largest single deployment of military personnel to the Indo-Pacific region since the launch of Operation HORIZON. It will also be the first major exercise to involve a broad spectrum of Canadian Armed Forces capabilities deployed together, drawing on personnel and assets from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM), 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD), and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).
The CAF’s contribution includes His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Québec, which will conduct live-fire naval exercises, and RCAF assets providing both strategic and tactical airlift. Together, these forces will demonstrate the CAF’s readiness to conduct integrated and expeditionary operations alongside key partners.
Participation in Ex TS25 strengthens Canada’s defence cooperation with the Australian Defence Force and advances the priorities set out in the Joint Statement on Strengthening the Canada–Australia Defence Relationship. This deployment sends a clear signal: Canada is deepening its commitment to collective security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
As global threats evolve, Canada will continue stepping up by investing in strong partnerships and demonstrating its capacity to contribute meaningfully to peace and security around the world.
Quotes
“Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 is a clear demonstration of Canada’s commitment, as outlined in our joint statement with Australia, to deepen defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen our shared ability to respond to evolving regional and global threats. This deployment highlights the Canadian Armed Forces’ expanding operational presence in the region and reflects our determination to improve interoperability with key allies and partners. Through this exercise, Canada is reaffirming its role as a dependable and engaged contributor to collective security in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
“The Canadian Armed Forces are proud to contribute its largest contingent ever to Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25. Our participation in this exercise is a testament to our readiness and ability to operate alongside our international allies and partners, demonstrating we remain a strong and interoperable force.
General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff
“The deployment of approximately 600 Canadian Armed Forces members, from the various elements of the Canadian Armed Forces to Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 demonstrates our commitment to the Indo-Pacific. This exercise will enable the Canadian Armed Forces to better respond to the rapidly evolving strategic environment by enhancing our capabilities and strengthening our military partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
“Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 offers the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command a unique opportunity to project forces across the globe to participate in challenging Special Operations scenarios alongside key allies and partners. Canadian Special Operations Forces Command’s contribution will add significant value to the exercise while continuing to build our own understanding of the nature and challenges of the Indo-Pacific region.”
Major-General Steve Hunter, Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Quick Facts
Ex TS25 will include live fire and field training exercises that incorporate force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations.
The exercise will utilize several locations across Australia, providing a realistic test of how a large military force should function in a broad area of operations. Ex TS25 will leverage locations and ranges for all domains of military operations: air, land, maritime, space, and cyberspace.
HMCS Ville de Québec has been sailing since April as part Operation HIGHMAST, the United Kingdom-led Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG25) deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The UK CSG25 is centred on the aircraft carrier His Majesty’s Ship Prince of Wales and includes warships, submarines, and aircraft from multiple allied nations.
Over the coming months, the UK CSG25 will conduct exercises and operations with air, sea, and land forces from more than a dozen countries. These activities will take place across the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.
CANSOFCOM will exercise multi-domain military operations within integrated multinational forces. This exercise will serve to test a variety of skills and capabilities to include logistics, communications, and command and control in an unfamiliar environment
The CAFCYBERCOM is the single Department of National Defence/CAF authority for cyber, responsible for the force generation, development, and employment of cyber forces. It encompasses Signals Intelligence and Joint Electronic Warfare and can conduct and support a range of effects in the cyber domain and electromagnetic spectrum.
3 CSD is responsible for delivering space power effects in support of CAF operations both at home and abroad. The CAF rely on space for a wide range of capabilities, such as command and control, situational awareness, surveillance, weather information, navigation, communications, mapping, and search and rescue.
