Ocean Explorer 2018 began on February 20 and will be carried out over a three week period off Jervis Bay, Maitland Bay and adjacent sea and air spaces.

The exercise features anti-air and anti-submarine warfare; maritime strike and interdiction, maritime advance force operations and command and control.

The second iteration of Exercise Ocean Explorer features a complex web of maritime warfare training, trials and exercises, all designed to challenge the navy's top warfighters to achieve sea control.

The RAN has sent two submarines, 10 ships and embarked aircraft from Fleet Base East in Garden Island, Sydney. All up 12 ships will take part in the exercise.

The exercise will also incorporate unit readiness workup training for HMA Ships Success and Farncomb and Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship Te Mana and culminate in amphibious operations by HMAS Canberra in the Bass Strait.

The exercise also includes the brief participation of the Royal Navy's Type 23 Frigate HMS Sutherland during her visit to Australia.

Exercise director, Captain Jim Hutton said this year's Ocean Explorer was about building on the success of last year.

“Last year's Ocean Explorer saw the certification of a Sea Control Task Group for the Australian Defence Force - a first in recent times," he said.

“In short succession, we deployed maritime task groups in complex multinational exercises such as Talisman Sabre and used them to excellent effect in the inaugural Joint Maritime Task Group deployment Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017.

“This year's Ocean Explorer is about continuing that exponential growth and ensuring we can hone our maritime warfare skills to meet any contingency.

“The main aim of the exercise is to develop our task group capability, to operate a number of ships under one commander and focus primarily on sea control operations.

“This can include the full spectrum of maritime security operations; from diplomacy and international engagement at one end, through to humanitarian and disaster relief, constabulary and peacekeeping operations, and at the upper end of the spectrum, warfighting."

HMAS Canberra has tested one of its key defensive capabilities,  the Nulka anti-ship missile decoy system during the exercise.

The hovering rocket decoy system was tested with the use of civilian aircraft including an underslung Nulka payload carried by helicopter and a Learjet simulating an incoming anti-ship missile.

Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer Lieutenant Commander Mark Williams said the trial was an integral part in ensuring navy’s ability to fight and win at sea.

“The Nulka is a hovering rocket decoy system that prevents anti-ship missiles from becoming a threat to our force,” he said.

“It forms a part of our layered defensive capability in the maritime environment.

“During the testing of new components, we aimed to increase the tactical effectiveness of the Nulka against anti-ship missiles.”

Navy works continually and cooperatively with industry and has been activity joined in this exercise by Defence Science and Technology Group, Air Affairs Australia and Kestrel Australia to conduct the trials.

“We used fast jets fitted with missile simulators, and helicopters carrying a Nulka payload to generate a realistic missile engagement scenario,” LCDR Williams said.

“The more effective Nulka is, the more enhanced will be the defence of our largest ships, the Landing Helicopter Docks.

“Working with the Defence Science and Technology Group and other industry partners ensures we are provided with up to date technology and leading edge tactics.”