Exercise IRON MOON 2013 concludes in Australia's North West

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have completed Exercise IRON MOON 2013, a two week Maritime Counter Terrorism training exercise in the waters off Exmouth and Dampier in North West Australia.

The annual exercise involved several hundred personnel from across Defence and Australian federal and state civilian agencies. The exercise is designed to enhance and validate the ADF Maritime Counter Terrorism response capability in the most realistic environment possible.

Commodore Peter Lockwood, Senior Defence OfficerWestern Australia, said the Special Operations Command-led exercise, which concluded on 29 September 2013, was one of a number of ADF exercises and operations inAustralia’sNorth Westregion this year as part of the Australian Government’s maritime security framework.

“The ADF, and in particular our Special Forces, has a long history of exercising on and aroundAustralia’s Offshore Energy Installations since the early 1980’s, but the multi-agency aspect of more recent exercises is important in sharpening our joint security response skills,” Commodore Lockwood said.

“This year’s exercise, held in the maritime zone around theNorth West, rehearsed a range of scenarios focused on maritime disruption and recovery operations in the event of a significant threat against offshore resource interests.”

Commodore Lockwood highlighted how critical these training exercises are in supportingAustralia’s national interests.

“The ADF plays a very important role inAustralia’s national security and exercises like IRON MOON enable us to maintain and continually develop our capabilities so that we can effectively respond to and resolve potential threats related toAustralia’s off-shore interests.”

“I would like to thank local residents, businesses and industry for their cooperation and support during this important training,” Commodore Lockwood said.

Exercise IRON MOON 2013 is one of a series of Navy, Army and Air Force exercises planned for theNorth Westthis year. Defence provides a range of maritime, land and air surveillance and response capabilities in support of government efforts to provide security for this strategically and economically important region.

Media note:

Imagery of the exercise is available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/S20131546

A video compile of the exercise will be sent to the television networks via the Press Gallery at 11:30 AM AEST.

Media contact:

Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999