Parallel to the heads of Darwin Harbour sits a Collins-class submarine ready for war games.
It is one of 13 vessels that will take part in Exercise Kakadu, which brings more than 30 allied nations together for the Royal Australian Navy's biennial war games.
Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said there could be no economic security without maritime security.
"Kakadu is the largest and most significant international exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, it deepens relationships and interoperability between participating armed forces," he said.
"Australia is a maritime nation that, like our neighbours, derives prosperity from access to the sea - assured by a strong navy and strong partnerships."
Growing in size and complexity since its inception in 1993, the exercise has forged strategic partnerships across Australia's European and Indo-Pacific allies. The 2024 event includes 32 nations.
A lieutenant from the Bangladesh Navy will form part of the multinational exercise control unit, responsible for the exercise's tactical and strategic co-ordination.
"I am the only one participating in this exercise from my nation" said Lieutenant Bassam Bri Chowdhury.
"I actually came here to learn how the exercise is being conducted and see what are the differences, and how, from these learnings, we can make our navy better."
The exercise solidifies Darwin's position as a strategic port in the federal government's plan to "strengthen and harden" assets in the north, as set out in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
The newly opened Kuru Wharf at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin, was put under the pump with six battleships taking berth in a three-by-three side formation, before deploying at midday on Thursday.
It was the first time the wharf had accommodated as many vessels and was a hive of activity as tugs and other smaller craft helped guide the ships out to sea.
Anti-submarine aircraft will also be deployed with the ships, including the Indian Navy's P-81 planes led by Commanding Officer Captain Anjay Kanwar.
"It's a multi-mission aircraft; we do surveillance, we do intelligence gathering, we do reconnaissance," he said of the P-81s.
"And if these were not peacetime missions, then it has a combat role. We are capable of carrying four harpoons and five torpedoes."
Capt Kanwar stressed the aircraft were working in a surveillance-only capacity.
"So nobody's carrying anything," he said.
Exercise Kakadu continues until September 20 with a strict exclusion zone for recreational vessels that extends north of Darwin Harbour.
