Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Big military exercise in northern Australia

Updated at 10:37 am on 10 July 2009

A joint Australian-US military exercise is to take place in northern Australia over the next two weeks.

The biennial exercise, dubbed Talisman Sabre 09, will stretch between Darwin and Rockhamption in Queensland.

The ABC reports fighter jets based in the Northern Territory, Japan and on a US nuclear carrier, which is currently off the north Australian coast, will be involved.

There will also be a large ground force in the Northern Territory. The exercise will be conducted day and night. It involves 18,000 people.

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