All three arms of Australia's military will be involved in two weeks of international security exercises in the South China Sea starting on Tuesday.
Australia strongly supports "freedom of navigation" conventions in the contested area, after China recently militarised their man-made islands in the important trading channel.
Militaries from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom will participate in Bersama Lima 18, which runs from October 2 to 19.
"This exercise will include a field training element, live fire serials as well as a command post exercise that will test the operability of Australian maritime, land and air elements," Group Captain Nicholas Pratt said in a statement on Monday.
"These activities will extend the partner nations' knowledge of each other's tactics and operational procedures."
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The five nations are part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which was established in 1971.
Australia will send nine Hornet fighters, four other aircraft, two naval ships and a platoon of Australian Army soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth.
The South China Sea is subject to competing territorial claims from Asian nations, but Australia has repeatedly said it should stay open to vessels from all countries.
