Aircraft carriers, aircraft, and ground troops are all expected to participate in Talisman Sabre 2025, which will continue until early August.
As part of a joint military exercise, aircraft carriers USS George Washington (CVN-73) and HMS Prince of Wales met last week in the Indo-Pacific. The biennial multinational drill dubbed Talisman Sabre incorporates 35,000 personnel from 19 nations. Aircraft carriers, aircraft, and ground troops are all expected to participate in the massive exercise, which will continue until early August. Considering the ramp-up in hostilities in the South China Sea, the show of force between the United States, Australia, and other key allies and partners in the region is paramount for ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. Talisman Sabre is the largest military drill between the United States and Australia and showcases the robust cooperation between the two nations. As explained by the US Army Pacific, “This exercise is meant to illustrate the closeness of the U.S.-Australia Alliance and the strength of the military-to-military relationship. This is the tenth iteration of the exercise.”
USS George Washington
Arguably, the crux of Talisman Sabre is the power projection capability made possible via aircraft carriers. USS George Washington sailed alongside the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, demonstrating the collective carrier power in the exercise. The George Washington is underway with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW-5), the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and destroyer USS Shoup. As the sixth carrier in the Nimitz-class, the George Washington retains all the formidable specs and capabilities of its sister ships. Upon its commissioning at Naval Station Norfolk in the early 1990s, the massive carrier remained a critical player in the service’s sea-based strategy. Powered by a pair of Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, the George Washington can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots while underway. Before requiring refueling, the carrier can travel more than 3,000,000 nautical miles. The super carrier is currently equipped with two Phalanx CIWS mounts and two Sea Sparrow SAM launchers. Aircraft-wise, the George Washington can launch a variety of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms.
HMS Prince of Wales
The Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales represents its second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. As the flagship of the British Navy, the Prince of Wales is equipped with the latest and greatest technologies the UK has to offer. Both Queen Elizabeth warships can launch a variety of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, and the Wildcat and Merlin Mk2 helicopters. Two Rolls-Royce Marine Trent MT30 36MW gas turbine generator units power the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, unlike the nuclear power sources that power the American-made Nimitz ships. Notably, the British ship is not fitted with catapults like the Nimitz-class, but is designed to operate short take-off and vertical landing aircraft. Prior to its dispatch to join the George Washington as part of Talisman Sabre 2025, the Prince of Wales most recently docked in Singapore, marking its first Indo-Pacific port visit. The British carrier previously participated in other NATO exercises in the region, including Mediterranean Strike 25 in the Ionian Sea.
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Author: Maya Carlin
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