TALISMAN SABRE 23: It will be "Spooky"

The 27th Special Operations Wing will support the tenth and largest edition of the biennial Australian-led exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 from mid-July to early August. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States. Other nations, such as Germany, will also participate.

The 27th Special Operations Wing will participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre with AC-130J Ghostrider Gunships, the new variant of the AC-130U "Spooky II" from the 17th Special Operations Squadron, an MC-130J Commando II from the 9th Special Operations Squadron, and the Mission Sustainment Team from the 27th Special Operations Support Squadron. In addition, MC-130J Commandos from the 1st Special Operations Squadron will also participate.

The AC-130Js of the 17th SOS are already in the Indo-Pacific region to support Exercise Teak Action, another bilateral exercise between Australia and the United States. Their presence in Australia marks the first time AC-130s have flown to and operated in Australia.

Talisman Sabre is conducted jointly by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Australian Defence Force's Joint Operations Command; other participating nations include: Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and the United Kingdom.