Australian and New Zealand Forces Conduct Submarine Drills
Air crews practice joint anti-submarine warfare techniques during the multinational Exercise Bersama Lima 2026 in Singapore.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Military
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Royal Australian and New Zealand Defence Force crews deployed P-8A Poseidon aircraft to train in anti-submarine warfare. The collaborative exercise focused on detecting and tracking a Singaporean submarine using advanced acoustic technology.
Why it matters
This training allows partner nations to integrate diverse equipment and procedures, strengthening interoperability during complex underwater operations. The exercise ensures air crews remain capable of identifying and monitoring vessels in a shared maritime environment.
The drill involved two P-8A Poseidon crews using sonobuoys to capture and analyze underwater acoustic data. Operators successfully distinguished target submarine sounds from ambient environmental noise during the activity.
The players
Royal Australian Air Force
The aerial warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force responsible for maintaining and operating long-range surveillance aircraft.
New Zealand Defence Force
The combined military forces of New Zealand tasked with maintaining national security and participating in international maritime exercises.
The details
Acoustics operators from both nations deployed sonobuoys to gather and process data from beneath the surface. This activity required crews to coordinate search patterns to effectively track the Singaporean submarine target.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: Exercise Bersama Lima 2026 anti-submarine warfare activity occurred.
Political Context
The exercise follows the cooperative framework set by the Five Power Defence Arrangements. While these drills emphasize regional security, they draw pushback from observers concerned that increased interoperability may be perceived as an escalatory posture by other nations in the region.
The drills do not impose direct regulatory or financial changes on the public. They serve as a signal of continued international military coordination regarding maritime security in the region.
The takeaway
Joint military training exercises serve to harmonize technical procedures between allied nations operating in complex maritime zones. Maintaining these partnerships ensures that crews can effectively communicate and share critical sensor data during future tactical operations.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing regional security operations on the Military section page.
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