Japan – CONTACT magazine

Ahead of Exercise Bushido Guardian, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Forces and United States Air Force fast jets conduct a trilateral activity. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson.

Bushido Guardian launches fast jets in Japan

03/10/202503/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 441 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bushido Guardian, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 3 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 has launched, with F-35A Lightning II jets from 3 Squadron, supported by a 33 Squadron KC-30A

Australian Army officers from 2nd Health Brigade assist United States Army personnel in loading a Japanese Middle Army patient onto a CT machine at the Role 3 field hospital on Exercise Orient Shield 2025 at the Sekiyama Training Area, Japan. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Japan News

Army medics hone trilateral skills

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 375 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Brigade, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Orient Shield, Japan, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

From trauma care to casualty evacuation, army medical specialists from Australia, Japan and the United States trained side by side

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Orient Shield at the Sekiyama Training Area, Japan. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Japan News Videos

Trilateral mortars on target

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 714 Views 0 Comments 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Exercise Orient Shield, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

In a landmark first, Australian Army soldiers joined their Japanese and United States counterparts in a combined mortar live-fire on

The 2nd Artillery Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force launch a Type 12 surface-to-ship missile at Beecroft Weapons Range, New South Wales, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Private Alex Brown.

Australian Japan News

Japan fires missile in Jervis Bay

25/07/202503/08/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1547 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre

For the second time in Australia, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has conducted a live-fire demonstration of Type 12

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel attached to the Australian Amphibious Force - Amphibious Task Group 1 (ATG-1) participate in Wet and Dry Environmental Rehearsals (WADER) from HMAS Canberra during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in the Cowley Beach Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

Japan News Pacific

Multinational integration during amphib landings

25/07/202525/07/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1610 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre

Over the last few days, the Australian Amphibious Force has completed significant Force Integration Training (FIT) and Wet and Dry

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Captain Ishidera Takahiko receives a personalised cricket bat from Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney, Commander Ben Weller, on arrival in Yokosuka during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photos by Leading Seaman David Cox.

Japan News Royal Australian Navy

Port visit firms ties with Japan

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1732 Views 0 Comments HMAS Sydney, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Regional Presence Deployment

HMAS Sydney arrived in Japan for a short break and maintenance period in Yokosuka at the midpoint of its Indo-Pacific

A Royal Australian Air Force P8-A Poseidon aircraft and United States Navy P-8A Poseidon’s on the flight line at United States Air Force Kadena Air Base, Japan, during Operation Argos 25-1. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Corporal Emma Schwenke.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF Poseidon on North Korean-sanctions patrol

29/04/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5899 Views 0 Comments No. 11 Squadron, Operation Argos, P-8A Poseidon, united Nations Security Council, US Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol crew deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for Operation Argos

Commander Information Warfare Force Captain Catherine Gordon observes team 3 with Leading Aircraftman Shumack. Story by Lieutenant Commander Julian Thirkill.

Japan News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Specialists home in on cyber defence

18/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2573 Views 0 Comments Cyber Defence, Exercise Blue Spectrum, Information Warfare, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, US Navy

Multinational information warfare specialists recently tested real-world threat scenarios during Exercise Blue Spectrum in Ichigaya, Japan. CAPTION: Commander Information Warfare Force

USS Mobile, JS Akebono, HMAS Warramunga and BRP Antonio Luna during a multilateral maritime cooperative activity between Australia, the United States, Japan and the Philippines within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone. Photo by Petty Officer Leo Baumgartner

Japan News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy USA

Four-nation patrol in South China Sea

08/04/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1859 Views 0 Comments

Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States conducted the first multilateral maritime cooperative activity on yesterday, 7 April 2024,,

RAAF military working dog, Zlo, during the trilateral security forces subject matter expertise exchange at Iruma Air Base, Japan. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force

New milestone for trilateral security forces

02/02/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2528 Views 0 Comments Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Military Working Dogs, No. 13 Squadron, US Air Force

An Air Force military working dog’s (MWD) first trip to Japan has marked a significant step in Australia’s commitment to

HMAS Huon deploys an underwater sensor. Photo by Able Seaman Casey Buurveld.

Australian Japan News Science & Technology

Australia and Japan sign undersea-warfare-research agreement

23/01/202423/01/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1810 Views 0 Comments Defence Science and Technology Group

Australia and Japan have signed an agreement to enhance strategic capabilities in robotic and autonomous systems for undersea warfare. FILE

Australian Army, United States Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel at the opening ceremony of Exercise Yama Sakura 85.

ADF Japan News

Aussies’ first participation in Ex Yama Sakura

08/12/202315/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2615 Views 0 Comments 1st (Australian) Division, Exercise Yama Sakura, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

Australia is participating in Exercise Yama Sakura (YS85) for the first time, enhancing interoperability and mutual defence capability with Japan

Crews and support personnel at NAF Atsugi base in Japan during Exercise AnnualEx 2023. Behind them are a RAAF P-8A Poseidon, left, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1, centre, Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora, mid-ground, and United States Navy P-8 Poseidon, right. Photo: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF P-8A Poseidon training in Japan

05/12/202312/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3439 Views 0 Comments Exercise Annualex, Exercise Nichi Gou Trident (NGT), HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Stalwart, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, No. 11 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon

A RAAF P-8A Poseidon and 33 personnel from 11 Squadron have conducted two training exercises at Naval Air Facility (NAF)

Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft fly with Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J Eagle aircraft during Exercise Bushido Guardian 2023. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Exercise Bushido Guardian

22/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3730 Views 1 Comment Exercise Bushido Guardian, F-35B Lightning II, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 75 Squadron

Australian and Japanese aviators forged strong partnerships and lifelong lessons during the two-week Exercise Bushido Guardian in Japan. CAPTION: Royal