Page 49 - Australian Defence Magazine October 2021

OCTOBER 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
DEFENCE IN THE NORTH 49
with another country is with the United States 60 years ago,” Morrison said. “The significance of the Reciprocal Access Agreement cannot be understated.”
Engagement has certainly been building in recent years. In 2019, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) per- sonnel fired two FH-70 howitzers out to 25 kilometres while in Australia in a historic first for the JGSDF; RAAF’s first bilateral combat exercise with Japan took place that same year; and Japan deployed a new amphibious brigade to Exercise Talisman Sabre.
In 2021, Japanese troops returned for trilateral Exer- cise Southern Jackaroo to train alongside Australian and US forces.
India, the final member of the Quadrilateral Security Di- alogue, is also stepping up its training presence in northern
Australia. In September, HMAS Warramunga and Indian Navy warships INS Shivalik and INS Kadmatt conducted high-end maritime warfare training off the coast of the Northern Territory during AUSINDEX 21, the first itera- tion of the exercise to be held there. The exercise included communication, maritime manoeuvres, and combined war- fare serials.
INFRASTRUCTURE
As the strategic importance of northern Australia grows, so too has the scale of government spending on infrastructure.
ABOVE: Head of Maritime Systems Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm visiting Tropical Reef Shipyard in Cairns.
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