The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has successfully concluded its role as a key participating nation on Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023 in Indonesia.

This was the largest ever Super Garuda Shield exercise since the training activity began in 2009.

This year, more than 5,000 troops from seven participating nations trained in and around East Java. Host nations Indonesia and the United States were joined by Australia, France, Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, with a further 12 nations also sending observers.

Commander of the Australian Army’s 1st (Australian) Division, Major General Scott Winter, AM, said Australia’s participation on this exercise was significant.

“Super Garuda Shield is what success looks like in terms of regional engagement and overseas training for our Army,” Major General Winter said.

“It also demonstrated our ability to meet the most demanding land challenges in the future and to effectively deploy significant land forces, including armour, across the Indo Pacific region.”

The contingent included 125 Australian Army personnel, a troop of M1A1 Abrams tanks and support vehicles from the 1st Armoured Regiment, a platoon of infantry from the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment, a team from the Special Air Service Regiment, and medical and other specialists.

“I’ve had a lot of good days in the Army, probably none so proud as seeing Australian tanks alongside their Indonesian counterparts here in East Java,” Major General Winter said.

The exercise comprised of several training phases including a subject matter expert exchange, combined arms field training, amphibious operations, and a special operations military free fall jump.

The exercise culminated in live-fire training by multinational forces, including strikes by F-16, AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-1 Super Cobra aircraft, 105mm artillery and HIMARS rocket systems, and by tanks, infantry and other weapons systems.