HMAS Hobart departs Darwin – LSIS Ernesto Sanchez
Defence News: 20th January 2025 – HMAS Hobart joined Exercise La Perouse 25 yesterday, a French-led multilateral maritime training activity in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia. During the exercise, 12 ships and more than 30 aircraft will practice maritime interoperability missions, including multi-domain and simulated warfare training, boarding operations, live fire exercises, and air-based search and rescue procedures. The exercise involves participants from Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and United States, including the French Navy aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC, RAN, said the exercise would deepen our cooperation with France and strengthen our shared engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific. “Multilateral exercises like La Perouse 25 highlight our shared security interests, and allow the Australian Defence Force to strengthen cooperation and build interoperability with other nations through a live training environment. “Australia’s security and prosperity lies in the Indo-Pacific, and the experience gained through this exercise ensures we can collectively maintain peace, security and prosperity in the region.”
Commanding Officer of HMAS Hobart Commander Alisha Withers RAN, said La Perouse 25 was the largest iteration of the exercise in its history. “The whole ship’s company is excited to put our training to the test during such a challenging but rewarding event. It’s also a great honour to work alongside the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, especially as it is the first time this carrier strike group has deployed to the Indo‑Pacific region.” Exercise La Perouse 25, the first major multi-national exercise on Defence’s 2025 calendar, is also the first key event for Hobart during its three-month Regional Presence Deployment.
Regional Presence Deployments (RPDs) involve maritime and air military visits and participation in a range of exercises and international engagement activities within the Indo-Pacific region. These deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment and ability to maintain a near continuous presence in the region, supporting regional security and stability. HMAS Hobart’s crew of around 230 personnel including an embarked MH-60R Romeo Seahawk, departed its homeport of Sydney on 6 January for a six-week deployment through Southeast Asia.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC, RAN, said RPDs continue the long history of successful maritime and air deployments contributing to the collective security of the Indo-Pacific region. They promote a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. These deployments also provide the opportunity to engage with our partner nations at sea and in the air to enhance interoperability.”
Commanding Officer HMAS Hobart, Commander Alisha Withers said the crew have been working hard to ensure they are ready and mission capable. “All of the crew are looking forward to representing Australia in the Indo-Pacific region and I thank their families for their ongoing support,” she said.
Commissioned in 2017, HMAS Hobart is the lead vessel of the three-ship Hobart Class and is equipped with the Aegis combat system, SPY-1D radar arrays, an MH-60R Romeo Seahawk combat helicopter, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and SM-2 and ESSM surface-to-air missiles.
This RPD will conclude in late February.