Twenty Fijian Navy sailors will be part of Exercise Kakadu in Darwin, Australia.

Chief of the Fijian Navy Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake said the sailors are undergoing training at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania.

He said the sailors were expected to bring the RFNS Kikau, which is undergoing its refit in Cairns, Australia, after its sea trials. However, the vessel and the sailors will take part in Exercise Kakadu before returning home.

This exercise, according to Capt (Navy) Tawake, is Australia’s premier international maritime exercise.

“It brings together navies and air forces from the Asian, Pacific and Indian Ocean regions to test integration and war fighting abilities,” he said.

Exercise Kakadu was last held on September 12-24, 2016, and involved 19 ships and submarines, 18 aircraft and more than 3000 personnel from 19 Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean navies and air forces.

Participating nations include Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, United States of America, and Vietnam.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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