Exercise Kakadu is the Royal Australian Navy’s premier multinational maritime engagement activity. It is conducted once every 2 years to strengthen maritime security cooperation, enhance interoperability and build partnerships across the Indo Pacific.
Kakadu has grown in size and complexity since it began in 1993. In 2026, the exercise area will expand to include the waters from Darwin to Cairns and down the eastern coast to Jervis Bay, New South Wales.
Exercise Kakadu is an opportunity for Australia and its regional partners to undertake combined multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end warfare. This results in stronger regional security partnerships and supports a rules-based regional order.
More than 25 vessels and supporting aircraft from Australia and 19 partner nations will participate in Exercise Kakadu 2026. At its peak, more than 6,600 personnel will take part in an International Fleet Review on Sydney Harbour.
Partner nations include:
- Canada
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- France
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Samoa
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Vietnam
- United States.