NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia — The 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force successfully sank a maritime target July 15, 2025, in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 during a midrange capability live-fire exercise deployed in Australia's Northern Territory.

The Army's 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force conducts the first midrange capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental U.S., successfully sinking a maritime target with a Standard Missile-6 during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 in the Northern Territory of Australia, July 15, 2025. The demonstration highlighted the strength of the Australia-U.S. alliance.

Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Australian Defence Force. The exercise demonstrates the task force's ability to deploy and support regional security and stability.

The MRC live fire is a significant milestone in the development of the U.S. military's land-based maritime strike and strategic strike capabilities. It validated the Army's ability to forward deploy long-range precision fires and demonstrated the 3rd MDTF's ability to execute command and control of a land-based maritime strike from a combined multi-domain command and control node in conjunction with the Australian army's emerging multi-domain formations.

The live-fire demonstration was conducted in synchronization with the joint force. This was the first time a land-based MRC was fired west of the international date line, marking a significant milestone in the development and employment of the U.S. military's land-based maritime strike capabilities.

"The deployment of the MRC and successful execution of a [Standard Missile-6] live fire against a maritime target is another significant step forward in our ability to deploy, integrate, and command and control advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities," said Army Col. Wade Germann, commander of the 3rd MDTF. "This exercise validated our targeting and [command and control] interoperability with our partner unit, the Australian 10th Brigade, through the land effects coordination cell. We have set the stage to develop and deploy combat-credible, multi-domain capabilities forward in support of the combined and joint force."

The live fire provided valuable insights and lessons that will inform the development and employment of future land-based maritime strike and strategic strike capabilities, he said.