06 May 25. PNG to host Talisman Sabre 25 exercises for the first time. In a landmark move, Australia’s largest biennial military exercise, Exercise Talisman Sabre, will, for the first time, extend beyond Australian shores, with Papua New Guinea hosting key elements of Talisman Sabre 25. Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones announced the overseas debut during a visit to Igam Barracks in Lae on 23 April. It is the 11th iteration – and the first in its 22‑year history – to be conducted, in part, outside Australia.
“It’s indicative of the relationship we have with Papua New Guinea, and in this year of the 50th anniversary of independence for Papua New Guinea,” VADM Jones said.
Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial, multinational training activity led by the Australian Defence Force and the United States Military. Since its inception in 2005, it has focused on crisis‑action planning and contingency response, typically involving more than 30,000 personnel from nearly 20 nations across six training areas in northern and central Australia, the Coral Sea and, occasionally, overseas locales. Talisman Sabre 25, scheduled for 13 July to 4 August 2025, will see joint activities by the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF), the ADF and US forces around Wewak, Madang and Lae, culminating in an official closing ceremony at Igam Barracks. While in-country, VADM Jones met PNGDF Chief Rear Admiral Philip Polewara at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby. He also officially opened the newly refurbished National Surveillance Coordination Centre (NSCC) at HMPNGS Basilisk – a project delivered under the Australia‑PNG Defence Cooperation Program.
“The bedrock of maritime security is knowing and understanding what’s going on in your sovereign waters and the surrounding regions,” he said, praising the NSCC for bringing together PNGDF, fisheries, customs, police and other agencies to bolster maritime‑domain awareness.
The announcement came during Anzac commemorations. On Anzac Day, VADM Jones represented the ADF at the 110th anniversary memorial service at Bomana War Cemetery, honouring the Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators who fought – and fell – in New Guinea during World War II. More than 3,300 Australians and 40 members of the Papuan Infantry Battalion rest in that hallowed ground. “When you stroll among the neat rows of graves, you realise the enormity of their sacrifice,” he reflected, paying tribute to the Papuan civilians whose courage and compassion aided countless wounded soldiers across the Kokoda Track. (Source: Defence Connect)
06 May 25. Rheinmetall cooperates with DSTA in Singapore – innovation in simulation and training systems. Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and Germany’s Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore digitalisation and experimentation opportunities in simulation and training systems to enhance training capabilities for the Singapore Armed Forces, leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud and extended reality. The MoU will also support talent development initiatives through exchange programmes, work attachments and internship opportunities at Rheinmetall, allowing DSTA engineers and interns to deepen their technical competencies. The collaboration was announced on the sidelines of IMDEX Asia 2025.
Ms Yeoh Ee-Wen, Director of Simulation and Training Systems at DSTA states: “This collaboration will enable Rheinmetall and DSTA to tap on each other’s strengths to explore advanced simulation technologies to develop more realistic, engaging and effective training capabilities. In doing so, we hope to harness the transformative potential of these technologies to enhance training for the Singapore Armed Forces.”
Tim Krabbes, Head of Sales for Rheinmetall’s Integrated Electronic Systems business unit, said: “Rheinmetall and DSTA bring together deep expertise, technological excellence, and a shared vision of leveraging digital transformation to push the boundaries of simulation and next-generation solutions. I would like to stress that this collaboration is not just about technology – it is also about fostering a culture of innovation, agility, and more importantly trust.”
About the Defence Science and Technology Agency:
DSTA is a top-notch technology organisation that drives innovation and delivers state-of-the-art capabilities to make the Singapore Armed Forces a formidable fighting force. Harnessing and exploiting science and technology, our engineers and IT professionals leverage multidisciplinary expertise to equip our soldiers with advanced systems to defend Singapore. DSTA also contributes its technological expertise to support national-level developments. To achieve our mission, DSTA excels in systems engineering, digitalised platforms, cyber, software development and more.
02 May 25. US State Dept OKs possible sale of F-16 training, sustainment for Ukraine. The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of F-16 training and sustainment, along with related equipment, to Ukraine for $310m, the Pentagon said on Friday. Days before the deal, Ukraine and the U.S. signed a deal heavily promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump, to give the U.S. preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and fund investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Ukraine has previously received F-16 jets from U.S. allies under a jet transfer authorized by former President Joe Biden’s administration. Trump has not been as eager to assist Kyiv with weapons support, instead relying on transfers authorized by Biden. Under Biden, more than $31bn worth of weapons and equipment was pledged to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the president to approve rapid transfers to foreign countries from U.S. military stockpiles, without having to seek congressional approval. These weapons and others purchased with U.S. funds on behalf of Ukraine and shipped via the same channels continue to flow. This sale is separate from that, and represents an actual weapons deal whose principal contractors include Lockheed Martin Aeronautics BAE Systems and AAR Corporation the Pentagon said in a statement. (Source: Google/Reuters)