Exercise Talisman Saber Exercise Talisman Saber ( also spelled Talisman Sabre , the spelling alternating between US and Australia ) is a biennial joint Australia - United States military exercise . Talisman Saber involves joint exercises performed by the Australian Defence Force and the United States Military across six locations in northern and central Australia , the Coral Sea , and in Honolulu , Denver , and Suffolk , Va . , though the bulk of the exercises are concentrated at the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area and other locations in northern and central Australia and Australia ' s territorial sea and exclusive economic zone . To reflect its bilateral nature , leadership of the exercise switches between Australia and the US every 2 years ; primary leadership is reflected in the varied spelling of Saber / Sabre . The exercise focuses on crisis - action planning and contingency response , enhancing both nations ’ military capabilities to deal with regional contingencies and the War on Terrorism . Five exercises have been held in 2005 , 2007 , 2009 , 2011 and 2013 . Annual exercises . Talisman Saber 2005 was the inaugural exercise in this series , conducted 12 – 27 June 2005 , in Shoalwater Bay , Rockhampton , Townsville , and the Coral Sea , with 16 , 000 US and Australian troops . Planning for the exercises began in early 2003 , and the exercise was meant to combine elements from previous exercises Tandem Thrust , Kingfisher and Crocodile . During the exercise , U . S . Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Command jointly executed more than 25 landing craft , air cushion ( LCAC ) trips and more than 1 , 300 Australian S - 70A Blackhawk and MH - 60S Knight Hawk landings and takeoffs . Talisman Sabre 2007 involved 26 , 000 US and Australian troops over 10 June – 25 July . The exercise primarily took place at Shoalwater Bay , the Townsville Field Training Area , and the Bradshaw Field Training Area in central Queensland and in the Northern Territory . The exercise also involved the use of civilian airports including Sydney and Brisbane , and RAAF Base Amberley . A focal point of the exercises was a joint amphibious landing that involved the launch of more than 2 , 500 personnel from six ships early on 20 June . Talisman Saber 2009 was conducted 6 – 25 July 2009 , with 10 , 000 Australian land and naval forces and 20 , 000 U . S . troops . The exercise was led by the United States and was conducted primarily at Shoalwater Bay and the Townsville Field Training Area . It involved various amphibious assault exercises and ship defense exercises . Talisman Sabre 2011 was conducted in July 2011 and was led by Australian forces . It incorporated " combined Special Forces operations , parachute drops , amphibious ( marine ) landings , land force manoeuvres , urban and air operations and the coordinated firing of live ammunition . " Talisman Sabre 2013 will see MV - 22 s deployed to Australia for the first time . Involved approximately 21 , 000 US and 7 , 000 AUS personnel with Carrier Strike Group Five , Expeditionary Strike Group Seven , Royal Australian Navy , Royal Australian Air Force , and . Opposition and protests . There were a number of protests against the exercise in 2007 . These protests were motivated by concerns over the possibility of environmental damage to the Shoalwater Bay region and opposition to military exercises which simulate offensive operations . There was opposition to Talisman Sabre 2007 from peace activists and a number of environmental groups , with environmental concerns ranging from general military contamination , to the purported damaging effects of sonar on local marine life . The Australian and American militaries have previously recognised the environmental concerns of operating in this area , with troops undergoing environmental impact briefings before arriving at the location in 2005 , and an environmental training centre to be constructed before the 2007 exercise . Environmental concerns . There have been concerns that depleted uranium munitions , which have been linked to increased incidence of cancer , posing significant health risks , have been used at the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area during Exercise Talisman Saber . Prior to the 2005 exercise the Australian Department of Defence issued a press release which stated that depleted uranium " will not be used in TS05 by either Australian or US forces " and that this was " unequivocal " . This commitment was reiterated prior to Talisman Saber 2009 .