CANBERRA, June 7 (Xinhuanet) -- One of the largest Australia-US joint military training exercises involving more than 17,000 defense personnel from the two countries will start Wednesday, Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported Tuesday.

    The exercise, which will last more than three weeks and is codenamed "Talisman Sabre 2005," includes members of the army, airforce, marine and special forces units from both countries.

    The exercise will be based on fictional scenarios including parachute drops and air combat training, with the focus on the central and north Queensland regions.

    Specific focus is on the Shoalwater Bay training area, north of Rockhampton, Queensland, according to AAP.

    The commander of the US Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Jonathan Greenert, told reporters in Sydney, capital of the state of New South Wales, that Talisman Sabre is the largest-scale bilateral exercise the United States has ever been involved in. Enditem