Australia and Indonesia Conclude Landmark Exercise Keris Woomera
- Exercise Keris Woomera 26 concluded on October 20, 2026, marking the Australian Defence Force's largest overseas training activity of the year.
- The nine-day exercise included amphibious landing operations, live-fire activities, maritime integration between naval forces, and combined air-land training serials.
- Exercise Keris Woomera 26 has provided a valuable opportunity for Australia and Indonesia to train together in a realistic and demanding environment.
Exercise Keris Woomera 26 concluded on October 20, 2026, marking the Australian Defence Force’s largest overseas training activity of the year. The bilateral defense drills involved approximately 1,000 Australian personnel and over 1,200 Indonesian National Armed Forces personnel operating across East Java, the Bali Sea, and surrounding maritime areas.
Defense Partnership and Strategic Trust
The nine-day exercise included amphibious landing operations, live-fire activities, maritime integration between naval forces, and combined air-land training serials. The initiative formed part of a broader series of trust-building exercises between the two neighboring militaries. Vice Admiral Justin Jones stated that the drills demonstrated the strength of the enduring bilateral defense relationship.
Exercise Keris Woomera 26 has provided a valuable opportunity for Australia and Indonesia to train together in a realistic and demanding environment.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones
Operational Milestones and Tactical Firsts
According to official Department of Defence records, the 2026 iteration introduced several operational milestones for Canberra’s forces. Australian units deployed and fired the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System overseas for the first time, while a Royal Australian Air Force 4 Squadron aircraft completed its first deployment into Southeast Asia since World War II. The exercise also featured the first cyber integration training conducted jointly by Australia and Indonesia.
Exercise Keris Woomera 2026 is underway, bringing together more than 2200 Australian and Indonesian military personnel. 🇦🇺 🇮🇩About 1000 ADF soldiers, sailors and aviators will engage in amphibious warfare activities, integration training and a live-fire exercise with more than… pic.twitter.com/y85GBuLhjl
Regional Security and Interoperability Goals
Fauzan Malufti, a researcher at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the maneuvers improve interoperability and unit-level familiarity. The training follows the February 2026 signing of the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, which reinforces mutual commitments to regional stability. Defence officials from both nations indicated that the combined exercises enhance readiness to respond to shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.