Patrol boats from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Australian Defence Force have completed joint navy surveillance and constabulary operations as part of Exercise Paradise 2025.
Held between 21-24 October in PNG, the exercise involved PNGDF’s Guardian-class patrol boat HMPNGS Ted Diro and ADF’s HMAS Albany.
During the exercise, the boats conducted a range of evolutions including coordinated patrols and combined maritime surveillance operations, safety of life at sea, search and rescue exercises, and seamanship and mariner skills training.
Australia’s Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN, said Exercise Paradise was part of a wide partnership with Papua New Guinea, Australia’s largest Defence Cooperation Program.
“Bilateral defence training like Exercise Paradise strengthens our strategic partnership with Papua New Guinea and enhances our shared maritime security," VADM Hammond said.
"It builds interoperability and enhances our shared response to maritime challenges in the region, including illegal fishing and transnational crime.
“We are pleased to join our closest neighbour for this important regular training opportunity and thank HMPNGS Ted Diro for the opportunity to work together.”
Commanding Officer HMAS Albany Lieutenant Commander LCDR Phil Wager said the exercise participants responded to realistic scenarios.
“We always enjoy training alongside our PNG friends in critical areas such as border security, fisheries protection, illegal drug interdiction and search and rescue,” Lieutenant Commander Wager said.
“Exercise Paradise is a regular navy-to-navy exercise we have with PNG and is a great opportunity to build interoperability and enhance our shared vision of a free and open Pacific.”
HMPNGS Ted Diro was handed over to the PNGDF in 2021 and is one of four Guardian-class patrol boats delivered to PNG under Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.
Future joint exercises, like Exercise Paradise 2026, are an opportunity for PNGDF and ADF to strengthen and expand defence cooperation through enhanced capability, interoperability and integration, a key element of the Treaty.
ENDS
Personnel from PNGDF Guardian-class patrol boat HMPNGS Ted Diro (P401) and ADF patrol boat HMAS Albany (P86) during Exercise Paradise 2025. The exercise was conducted in PNG in October 2025.
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