Posted by Brian Hartigan – CONTACT magazine

Letter to Lieutenant General Coyle in her previous capacity

04/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 112 Views 0 Comments

Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, AM, CSC, DSMChief of Joint Capabilities, Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT, 2600. Dear Lieutenant General Coyle, Please accept

2nd Health Brigade combat medics provide lifesaving treatment to wounded soldiers in a simulated mass-casualty (MASCAS) scenario during Exercise Pozieres Run in Queensland's Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Photo by Captain Chris Wade.

Australian Army News

Stress test pushes health teams to the limit

04/09/202604/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 103 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Brigade

Austere conditions, intense urban combat, a fast-moving battlespace and multiple mass-casualty scenarios – this was the backdrop against which the

An AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle is transported on a Royal Australian Navy LCM-1E landing craft at Garden Island, Sydney Harbour. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

New fighting vehicles tested on water

04/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 109 Views 0 Comments

Huntsman and Redback armoured vehicles took part in sea trials on and around Garden Island, Sydney Harbour, in July (reported

United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey from Marine Rotational Force - Darwin onboard HMAS Canberra during force-integration training Exercise Capital Reach off the coast of Queensland. Photo by Lieutenant Peter Allen.

MRF-D News Royal Australian Navy

Aussie/US force-integration on HMAS Canberra

04/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 130 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, MRF-D

HMAS Canberra has completed Exercise Capital Reach, a major force integration activity involving more than 350 United States Marines from Marine Rotational

HMAS Perth crewmembers conduct boat drills off the coast of Vietnam in the South China Sea during an Indo-Pacific Regional Presence Deployment. Photo by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Perth reading for rough conditions

04/09/202604/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 104 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Perth’s crew sharpened their skills with boat drills in the waters off the coast of Vietnam, in the South China

USNS Washington Chambers conducts a heavy jackstay replenishment at sea (stores) with HMAS Sydney (V) in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Hawaii, USA. Photo by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Sydney dodges weather to get a refill

03/09/202603/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 123 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Sydney wrapped up Exercise Pacific Dragon by dodging a hurricane to receive essential fuel and stores from USNS Washington Chambers. CAPTION: USNS

Flight Lieutenant Alisha Follington gets ready to land a C-17A Globemaster III at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo by Petty Officer Jarrod Mulvihill.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Flood-relief aid delivered to Nepal

03/09/202603/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 134 Views 0 Comments

A RAAF C-17A Globemaster III has transported humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) supplies, equipment and personnel to Nepal, in

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Sergeant Samuel Fedderson conducts maritime surveillance on a C-27J Spartan aircraft over Solomon Islands' waters. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF assist Solomon Islands fisheries patrols

03/09/202603/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 126 Views 0 Comments

Eyes fixed on the ocean below, loadmasters on board a RAAF C-27J Spartan searched the Solomon Islands’ vast maritime area

Leading Seaman Justin Howes flies over USS Santa Barbara, HMAS Supply and BRP Diego Silanga during a replenishment at sea off the west coast of Luzon. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Heuston.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Supply’s first contact with Philippine Navy

03/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 132 Views 0 Comments

For the first time, HMAS Supply has conducted a replenishment at sea (RAS) serial with the Philippine Navy. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Justin

Australian Army Warrant Officer Class Two Matthew Pfingst from 12 Chief Engineer Works discusses the construction of a new sewage system with contractors from Lae Builders and Contractors at Moem Barracks, Wewak, Papua New Guinea. Photo by Lieutenant Emily Tinker.

Australian Army News Pacific

Diggers upgrade barracks in PNG

03/09/202603/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 110 Views 0 Comments

ADF is delivering major upgrades to critical infrastructure at Moem Barracks in Papua New Guinea, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to supporting

An Australian Army Long Range Reconnaissance troop departs Gladstone for Emerald, Queensland, as part of Exercise Austral Shield 2026. Photo by Captain Jordan Grantham.

Australian Army News

Cavalry prove they can go the distance

03/09/202603/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 135 Views 0 Comments

Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) demonstrated its ability to conduct long-range mounted reconnaissance across regional Australia during Exercise Austral Shield.

62 Squadron Space Squadron Operations Room at RNZAF Base Auckland. NZDF photo.

Australian New Zealand News

New Zealand, Australian militaries move to formalise defence collaboration on space

02/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 211 Views 0 Comments

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Space Command have formally endorsed a shared

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marines and U.K. Airmen with RAF Brize Norton prepare to load an Australian Strike Master Coastal Defense System inside an Airbus A400M Atlas in Trondheim, Norway, Aug. 28, 2026, during Atlantic City 26. The operation is a Norwegian-led trilateral readiness initiative with the United Kingdom and United States, designed to develop and demonstrate expeditionary advanced base capabilities and validate combined fires, maritime domain awareness, and sea denial to reinforce the security and stability of the High North. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kedrick Schumacher)

Australian Europe News

Aussie StrikeMaster lives (overseas)

02/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 186 Views 0 Comments StrikeMaster

Once upon a time, the Aussie Bushmaster was paired with a missile launch system and entered in competition to fulfil

Editor's Blog Veterans

Is Minister Keogh backpedaling on ‘the cap’?

02/09/202602/09/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 199 Views 0 Comments Allied health cap

It seems Minister for Veteran’s Affairs Matt Keogh did a backpedal on the allied health-care cap announced in this year’s

Letters to the Editor

Loyalty, Duty, Integrity, Honour and Courage

31/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 209 Views 0 Comments

Deals have been done and now the mess that’s been left behind … has to be cleaned up! When the

Patrol boats Cape Spencer and Cape Hawke berthed at HMAS Cairns before their dual commissioning ceremony in Cairns. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez Jr.

News Royal Australian Navy

Navy commissions two new patrol boats

30/08/202630/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 286 Views 1 Comment

Royal Australian Navy has welcomed HMAS Cape Spencer and HMAS Cape Hawke into service, in a commissioning ceremony at HMAS Cairns. CAPTION: Patrol boats Cape