Royal Australian Navy Anzac class frigate HMAS Ballarat has returned to Fleet Base West in Western Australia following a successful three-month Regional Presence Deployment throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Regional Presence Deployments play a vital role in Australia's security and prosperity by enhancing cooperation and relationships with partners and allies, and developing capability to preserve the rules-based international order.
Ballarat sailed almost 20,000 nautical miles during her deployment, conducting engagements with ten partner and allied navies across the region.
Ballarat also conducted several patrols and transits through the South China Sea and trained alongside navies from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN, said the ship's company had represented Australia with professionalism and pride.
"I am immensely proud of the crew and the way they represented our nation as Australia's 'saltwater diplomats'," Vice Admiral Hammond said.
"Deployments of this nature require significant commitment from our people and their loved ones."
"We could not do what we do without the love and support of our families ashore, so I am pleased we could return them home safe and in time for Christmas."
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, RAN, said the deployment demonstrated Australia's longstanding commitment to maintaining a near-continuous presence in the region.
"Australia has maintained a robust program of international engagement with countries in and around the Indo-Pacific for decades," Vice Admiral Jones said.
"Regional Presence Deployments directly contribute to the security and stability of the region by building trust, mutual understanding and interoperability between partner nations and their armed forces.
"Regional Presence Deployments leverage the expertise of the ADF and our multinational partners to enhance regional capacity in a dynamic security environment."
Ballarat deployed with an embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and approximately 200 crew.
This was Australia's fourth Regional Presence Deployment for 2025, following the Navy's three guided-missile destroyers: HMA Ships Hobart, Sydney and Brisbane.
The next Regional Presence Deployment will commence in January 2026.
