Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

Air warfare destroyer NUSHIP Sydney departs Osborne Shipyards for the first time as it commences its builder’s sea trials. Photo by Simon Casson.

NUSHIP Sydney starts builder sea trials

16/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 55 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Navy’s third air-warfare destroyer, NUSHIP Sydney, has commenced its first phase of sea trials, which will test the ship’s hull,

Contenders for LAND 400 Phase 3 – Hanwha Redback V Rheinmetall Lynx.

Australian Australian Army News Technology

Infantry fighting vehicle project shortlist

16/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 201 Views 0 Comments

Hanwha Defense Australia and Rheinmetall Defence Australia have been short-listed to participate in the next stage of evaluation to replace Army’s

A Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) soldier turns on his Peltor hearing protection before boarding a helicopter in Afghanistan. Photo by Corporal Chris Moore.

CONTACT BLOG SPOT Health and Wellbeing

Using science to tackle tinnitus

15/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 339 Views 0 Comments

An ENT specialist doctor in Adelaide has designed treatment for tinnitus sufferers using digital technology. Tinnitus is a sound you

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail arrives at the Australian Defence Force's main operating base in the Middle East region for Operation Okra missions. Photo by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

Wedgetail back in the Middle East

15/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 178 Views 0 Comments

As part of Australia’s contribution to the US-led Global Coalition against Daesh, a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early

The crew of HMAS Melbourne conduct a Freedom of Entry march into the city of Melbourne. Photo by Leading Seaman Kieran Dempsey.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Melbourne exercises Freedom of Entry one last time

15/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 177 Views 0 Comments

By Lieutenant Ryan Zerbe The bonds between HMAS Melbourne (III) and her namesake city were reaffirmed 14 September with the

Australian News Veterans

Nominations open for 2020 PM’s Veterans’ Employment Awards

13/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 167 Views 0 Comments

Nominations for the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards, which highlight the contributions made by veterans in the civilian workforce and

Soldiers from the New Caledonian Armed Forces run in an endurance event, with an Australian Army officer as their observer, during Exercise Hydra 2019 at Greenbank Training Area, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gunner Sagi Biderman.

Australian Australian Army New Zealand News Overseas Pacific USA

Exercise Hydra tests multiple military heads

12/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 291 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers from eight nations are engaging in a military skills competition in Brisbane testing the teamwork, physical stamina and mental rigour

CONTACT BLOG SPOT Thought provoking

When capability overrides supportability – project disappointment

11/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 656 Views 0 Comments

Submitted ‘thought piece’… (Image supplied by Beca) When it comes to military procurement, acquisition leads often focus on buying as

The Vietnam Memorial in Canberra. Photo by Laura Larking.

Asia News Overseas Veterans

Australia supports Vietnam’s MIA recovery efforts

11/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 201 Views 0 Comments

As part of the ongoing cooperation between Australia and Vietnam, the Department of Defence has presented the Vietnamese Deputy Minister

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan investigate a fishing vessel spotted during an Operation Solania maritime patrol. RAAF photo.

Australian News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Spartan and King Air patrol Pacific

11/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 218 Views 1 Comment

By Eamon Hamilton The combination of Spartan and King Air aircraft proved a winning pair for the Air Force in

C-130J Hercules aircraft from No.37 Squadron fly in formation over RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force

Hercs celebrate 20th birthday

09/09/201909/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 289 Views 0 Comments

September 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the C-130J Hercules to Royal Australian Air Force service. CAPTION:

No 3 Squadron F/A-18 Hornets taxi at Korat Air Force Base during Exercise Thai Boomerang 2015. Photo by Corporal David Said.

Asia Australian News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF on two consecutive exercises in SE Asia

08/09/201908/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 421 Views 0 Comments

By Flight Lieutenant Alyssa Vickridge Royal Australian Air Force has deployed more than 120 people and six aircraft from RAAF

C-17A Globemaster's from the United States Air Force begin to taxi out for another mission on Exercise Mobility Guardian 17 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Photo by Corporal David Gibbs.

Australian News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force USA

RAAF deploys on Ex Mobility Guardian

08/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 520 Views 0 Comments

By Flight Lieutenant Clarice Hurren The Royal Australian Air Force has dispatched its two largest aircraft to the United States

Australian Army Force Support Battalion during the Force Support Element 11 farewell parade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Photo by Private Paensuwan.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Force Support Element 11 farewelled at Lavarack

08/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 474 Views 0 Comments

Around 85 Australian Defence Force personnel have been farewelled at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville ahead of their upcoming deployment to the

A remote control robot, operated by Australian Engineers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force moves in, to deal with an improvised explosive device, which the Australian troops uncovered during Operation Zamarai Silawel. Photo by Corporal Ricky Fuller.

Australian News Overseas USA

Study finds soldiers care about robots

08/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 423 Views 1 Comment

It is increasingly common to use robots in war zones to examine and disarm hazards or recover objects with the

Two Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets take off at Avalon, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

Asia Australian News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie Hornets on first combat exercise in Japan

08/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 489 Views 0 Comments

Up to 150 Royal Australian Air Force personnel will participate in the first bilateral air combat exercise between the Royal Australian

A RAAF C-27J Spartan drops Australian Aid onto the Mount Bundey Training Area during Exercise Crocodile Response, NT, Australia. Photo by Staff Sergeant Jordan Gilbert.

ADF Australian News

Aust/US working HADR together in the NT

07/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 317 Views 0 Comments

Australian Defence Force and Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) members have completed the humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief (HADR) activity

A Titan UGV fires a Javelin anti-tank missile by remote control. Kongsberg photo.

News Technology

Unmanned ground vehicle fires Javelin and guns

07/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 799 Views 0 Comments

Kongsberg has proved its innovative capabilities by firing a remotely controlled Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin missile and various machine-guns from a