HIMARS rocket platform fired in Talisman Sabre wargame exercise

The largest and most sophisticated wargame exercise on Australian soil is under way in Central Queensland.

Exercise Talisman Sabre is a showcase of the most advanced weaponry from 19 countries, including Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, France, Japan and Germany, and involves about 35,000 personnel.

Vietnam and Malaysia are attending as observers.

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China is expected to be surveilling the three-week exercise from a distance.

The exercise's opening act was the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS, a light multiple rocket launcher.

"Today was the first time the Australian Army has live-fired our long-range multi-domain platforms being the HIMARS, so it is a remarkable day," Brigadier Nick Wilson said.

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The goal of the exercise is to strengthen relationships between allies and partners and to promote a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

"We are stronger together and in partnering with both our regional and partner nations, we provide like minds in the application of our fire power," Wilson said.

The operation is usually conducted on Australian territory but for the first time will be extended across the Torres Strait and into Papua New Guinea.

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