Article Posted on : - Jul 25, 2011

HMAS Toowoomba conducting Exercise Scimitar Exocet with Turkish warships TCG Barbaros and TCG Yarbay Kudret Gungor. An Australian MoD

BAB EL MANDEB STRAIT (BNS): A multi-national maritime exercise involving the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate, two Turkish naval vessels and French Mirage fighters has concluded in the Gulf of Aden.

Commanded by the RAN’s seventh Anzac class frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, exercise ‘Scimitar Exocet’ held between July 22 and 23, was aimed at contributing to maritime security in the Bab El Mandeb Strait in the Middle East.

The Turkish Navy’s TCG Barbaros and TCG Yarbay Kudret Gungor warships took part in the naval drill.

During the wargame, the RAN warship proved its interoperability with the Turkish Navy against air-borne attacks.

HMAS Toowoomba was also engaged in advanced air warfare exercises with French Mirage fighter aircraft, the Australian Defence Ministry said.

Toowoomba is a long–range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction with an ability to counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

The frigate is presently deployed in support of Operation SLIPPER in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO), operating as part of the Combined Maritime Force (CMF).

The CMF mission includes maritime security operations in the Gulf region, the maritime environment around the Horn of Africa, and counter piracy/terrorism operations in the Gulf of Aden.