A U.S. Marine runs past the terminal at Cloncurry Airport during Talisman Sabre training in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
CLONCURRY, Australia — U.S. Marines and Australian soldiers pushed deep into the Outback in recent days to practice seizing remote airstrips, part of preparations for potential operations across the vast Indo-Pacific.
The training is part of Talisman Sabre, a biennial multinational exercise that began July 13 and runs through Aug. 4. More than 35,000 personnel from 19 nations are participating this year.
Since the exercise began, the Marines and Australian troops have captured airstrips at Timber Creek and Nackeroo in the Northern Territory, and at Cloncurry in Queensland, said Capt. Johnny Fischer, a spokesman for the 2,500-strong Marine Rotational Force-Darwin.
The airstrips are standing in for island facilities that the Marines could be tasked with seizing in a future contingency, Fischer told Stars and Stripes in Cloncurry on Sunday.
MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363, based in Hawaii, have flown Marines and Australian troops to their objectives. A recreational vehicle equipped with high-tech communications gear served as the command-and-control center during a 1,000-mile journey from Darwin to Cloncurry, Fischer said.
A five-vehicle convoy carrying 20 Marines, including cyber defenders, arrived near each airstrip ahead of the simulated raids.
Australian army Maj. Jamie Frisby, left, and U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Max Burke pose during Talisman Sabre training at Cloncurry Airport in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
The first runway seized was at Timber Creek, 376 miles south of Darwin. Troops then moved on to the Nackeroo airstrip at Bradshaw Field Training Area.
In May 2024, the Australian Defence Department announced the completion of upgrades at Nackeroo, including a runway extension and parking for aircraft, including Ospreys and C-17A Globemaster IIIs. The work is a major part of a $486 million package of upgrades to Northern Territory training areas and ranges, according to the department’s website.
Separately, the U.S. Army on July 15 struck a maritime target with an SM-6 missile launched from the Bradshaw area – marking the first live fire by a Typhon launch system in the Western Pacific. Marines helped ensure the surrounding airspace was clear, Fischer said.
On Friday, the Marines and Australians conducted another airborne raid to seize Cloncurry using Ospreys. Marine air traffic controllers took up positions beside the runway, and support personnel established a forward arming and refueling point, while additional Marines arrived Sunday on a KC-130J Super Hercules to assume control of the airport.
Australian troops then departed for Shoalwater Bay Training Area on Queensland’s east coast.
Flying deep into the Outback was a new experience for many Marines, said Capt. Kendall Weigand, a KC-130J pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153, also based in Hawaii.
“It’s wide open, wild terrain that’s unique to Australia,” he told Stars and Stripes after landing at Cloncurry. “We dropped into a canyon and saw a herd of wild horses. We were hoping for kangaroos.”
U.S. Marines arrive at Cloncurry Airport during the Talisman Sabre exercise in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
The arriving Marines encountered minimal resistance in the exercise scenario, said their commander, 1st Lt. Max Burke of 2nd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
“Only small sporadic fire teams are what’s expected,” he said.
Maj. Jamie Frisby, commander of the Australian troops at the airport, recommended a local bakery to the newly arrived Marines.
“They’re bringing the pies to us,” he said.
