IRIA News

The United States, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Australian forces are conducting Exercise Predator’s Run 24 in Australia. The multilateral training exercise led by the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade is taking place across multiple locations in the Northern Territory and Melville Island from July 15 to August 8, 2024.

The exercise involves the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the Australian Defence Force, the British Armed Forces and Commando Force, and the Republic of the Philippines Army. The Exercise Predator’s Run 24 aims to increase interoperability between the U.S. forces and its allies and partners, highlighting the effectiveness of combined operations.

The U.S. Marine Corps statement highlighted that during the exercise, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3 Marine will integrate into the ADF’s Combat Training Centre 1st Division as a supporting effort to the Australian Army 1st Brigade’s order of battle, conducting warfighting and live-fire field evolutions.

“These operations aim to enhance the MRF-D 24.3 Ground Combat Element’s, 2nd Bn., 5th Marines (Rein.), interoperability, and sustain mission-essential task list training readiness,” it added.

The Exercise Predator’s Run 24 provides the U.S. forces with an opportunity to conduct training missions, while integrating command and control, aviation, logistics, ground, off-continent, and allied capabilities, increasing warfighting readiness and better preparing for responding to crises or contingencies, contributing to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The commanding officer of 2nd Bn., 5th Marines (Rein.), U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Clinton K. Hall said, “This training is essential to test and refine our ability to execute and integrate battle drills at each echelon, focusing on offense, defense, and counterattack.”

“By applying simplicity to complex operations and focusing on combined arms in support of maneuver, we strengthen our mutual capabilities with our allies,” the U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Hall added.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Rebecca Bolz, the commanding officer of CLB-5 (Rein.) highlighted that logistics capabilities are one of the most critical components of Exercise Predator’s Run 24, and ensuring that all units can sustain the tempo of operations and persist is essential to victory in a contested environment.

“The integration of logistics support is crucial for sustaining the MRF-D MAGTF’s combat power, increasing the operational reach of units, and furthering interoperability with our allies,” she added.

#Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3 fire a Mark 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT, Australia, June 12.

The range improved the Marines' proficiency in various types of fires in preparation for Exercise Predators Run. pic.twitter.com/fYM5bJEAlU

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) June 20, 2024

During the exercise, the Royal Marines with 40 Commando Group of the United Kingdom Commando Force rehearsed onload and offload drills from an MV-22B Osprey assigned to VMM-268 (Rein.), MRF-D 24.3.

The exercise also featured U.S. MV-22B Ospreys during both day and night flight operations and incorporated digital interoperability assets to enhance coalition situational awareness and long-range communication capabilities.

It was also the first time that the UK Royal Marines deployed their fast lightweight vehicles Polaris MRZR from the U.S. Marines’ Osprey MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. “Fitting the MRZR onto the Osprey ultimately ensures Commandos can continue to operate seamlessly with the US Marines around the globe, wherever needed,” the UK’s Royal Navy said in a statement.

Two Commando company groups – Charlie and Bravo – of Taunton-based 40 Commando are providing the main punch supported by experts from across the UK Commando Force, including engineers of 24 Commando, fire support from 29 Commando, logisticians of the Commando Logistic Regiment, medics and reconnaissance specialists from 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group.

The UK @Commando_Ops arrive in Australia for Ex #PredatorsRun !🇦🇺

The exercise will have @RoyalMarines + @RoyalNavy working alongside Australian and US counterparts🤝

Supported by @RFALymeBay , the Ex is designed to test our ability to work with partners in the Indo-Pacific🌏 pic.twitter.com/j2GzlOEkBI

— Defence Operations 🇬🇧 (@DefenceOps) July 17, 2024

The UK’s two ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus – will be the launchpad for amphibious and helicopter raids, with three Commando Merlin aircraft from Yeovilton-based Commando Helicopter Force flying marines into the action, the Royal Navy said in a statement.

The U.S. Marines statement added that from July 27 to August 8, the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, 1st Brigade, and the United Kingdom Littoral Response Group (South) elements will transition to a combined arms live-fire exercise.

It will involve rapid planning, rehearsals, and execution of a scheme of maneuver with coordinated indirect and air fires to seize objectives, establish defenses, and prepare for counterattacks, culminating in an air assault to trap the enemy’s withdrawal.