Our podcast speaks with senior leaders from allied forces about exercises, technology and most importantly, the people that serve our nations.

Our episode today continues these themes and is focused on Exercise Kakadu, the Royal Australian Navy's largest naval exercise, and one of the largest naval exercises in the Southern hemisphere.

Held last September, the exercise theme of "partnership, leadership and friendship" was woven through a full program of activities in the seas and skies off Northern Australia.

Kakadu 2022 was one of the biggest iterations yet, having grown in scale and complexity over the past 30 years.

The exercise involved 15 warships, including a submarine, and 34 aircraft from 22 different nations, along with more than 3,000 participants.

The capabilities exercised ranged from humanitarian aid and disaster relief, seamanship, maritime law enforcement operations, to high-end maritime warfighting, including anti-air and anti-submarine warfare in a combined environment.

Participating forces steamed more than 24,500 nautical miles, and expended more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition in high-end training scenarios.

Speaking about Exercise Kakadu is our guest, Captain (Navy) Pete Bartlett, who was serving as the Director of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Force Generation Directorate, and was the Director of Exercise Kakadu 2022.

Captain Bartlett was kind to share his insight after the exercise concluded, so we hope you enjoy our discussion.

The next iteration of Exercise Kakadu is scheduled for 2024.

We wish to thank Captain Bartlett for his kindness and for the time he shared with us.

Go Bold!