Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

Royal Australian Navy Flight 607 personnel transfer a training torpedo onto an MH-60R Seahawk on the flight deck of HMAS Hobart. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

Old goats fly in hunt for submarines

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 836 Views 0 Comments ASWEX

Four of Navy’s most advanced multi-mission MH-60R helicopters supported the six warships, and RAAF and RNZAF Poseidon P-8 aircraft, to

Sergeant Matthew Watson and Sapper Daniel Almer from 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron prepare an unexploded ordnance for disposal during Operation Render Safe 25-B Nauru. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

Sappers helping Nauru to be safe

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 723 Views 0 Comments Operation Render Safe

A team of ADF explosives experts worked with Government of Nauru authorities to dispose of two World War 2-era unexploded

Two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters circle HMAS Warramunga, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Toowoomba as the ships prepare for ASWEX 25. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Navy

Anzac wolf pack hunts subs off WA

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1298 Views 0 Comments Anzac-class frigates, ASWEX

Four of Australia’s seven Anzac-class frigates sailed in formation off the Western Australian coast for ASWEX 25 this month. CAPTION:

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment and members of the Philippine Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Company conduct littoral assault training with Zodiac small boats during a Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) program at Marine Base Ternate. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.

Australian Army News Pacific

Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines doubles commitment

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1703 Views 0 Comments JATT-P, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), Philippines

Military training activities between Australia and the Philippines are increasing in 2025, strengthening cooperation and broadening interoperability. CAPTION: Australian Army

HMAS Sydney departs Darwin on Regional Presence Deployment 25-2. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

ADF Asia News

HMAS Sydney leads Aussie team on Bersama Shield 2025

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 731 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

HMAS Sydney is leading the Australian charge on Exercise Bersama Shield 2025 as part of Australia’s second regional presence deployment

A newly acquired M1A2 Abrams main battle tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. Photos by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor Veterans

Many problems hindering 3 Brigade’s new roles

11/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 936 Views 0 Comments 1 Armd Regt

Defence Press Release, 28 September 2023… “The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade.” The Defence

Australian Army News What's on...

BRAVERY & BETRAYAL – The True Story of the SAS in Afghanistan

08/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2458 Views 0 Comments Bravery and Betrayal, Wandering Warriors

Developed by ex-SAS veterans a new documentary film is stripping back the myths and telling the true story of the

Editor's Vlog

Moving giant slab outdoors

05/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1136 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

The giant slab I cut last week gets moved outdoors in this video. It wasn’t easy, of course. But, with

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor News

Army Cut Back – Why?

05/04/202505/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 2086 Views 3 Comments

Army has recently removed a squadron of tanks from its order of battle; no reason has been offered. FILE PHOTO

Australian Army soldiers from 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, fire Assegai ammunition in Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Australian Army News

4th Regt gunners fire new Assegai ammunition

04/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1513 Views 0 Comments Assegai ammunition

Record rainfall and knee-deep mud couldn’t dampen the morale of Townsville’s 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, gunners as they completed

The Australian Defence Force has selected the F9 pistol as its newest sidearm. Its lightweight design and high-capacity magazine make it a top choice for military use. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.

ADF News

ADF gets new pistol

04/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2563 Views 0 Comments

With the new F9 sidearm weapon system (F9 SWS) in hand, personnel have begun pulling the trigger on a new

Artist rendering of SSN-AUKUS via BAE Systems. UK MoD, Crown copyright.

AUKUS News Royal Australian Navy

Will Australia ever own Virginia-class SSNs – Turnbull argues no

03/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1533 Views 1 Comment AUKUS, Malcolm Turnbull

In an address to the National Press Club this week, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called for a proper and

A Royal Australian Navy sailor on the bridge of HMAS Brisbane keeps watch during search operations for the crashed MRH-90 in the vicinity of Lindeman Island during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23. Photo by Leading Seaman Hannah Linsley.

Australian Army News

Defence report into MRH-90 helicopter crash complete

03/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1320 Views 0 Comments MRH-90 Taipan

The Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) has finalised its Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the accident on 28 July 2023,

General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove speaks with Australian Navy Cadets during a visit to the West Head Gunnery Range, Flinders, Victoria. Photo by Leading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

CONTACT Cadets News

Cadets thank Sir Peter for inspiring patronage

03/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 955 Views 0 Comments General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove

As General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove’s tenure as Patron of the ADF Cadets draws to a close, the cadet community

HMAS Sydney conducts a 5-inch gun firing in support of soldiers ashore at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, during Regional Presence Deployment 25-2. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

Naval fire in support of soldiers ashore

03/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1062 Views 0 Comments

It was anything but quiet on the bridge of HMAS Sydney as she fired her Mk 45 5-inch naval artillery

An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Armoured Regiment with an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a prototype communications system and experimental drone launcher during Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Australian Army News Science & Technology USA

Large Army contingent converge on US for drone tests

03/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 862 Views 1 Comment

A hostile desert setting may seem an unusual place to test fragile, high-tech military prototypes, but there may be no

Family, friends and members of the local and ADF communities attend a 20th anniversary memorial service for the 'Shark 02' helicopter crash, conducted at the Fleet Air Museum, HMAS Albatross. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Veterans

Defence commemorates 20th anniversary of ‘Shark 02’ crash

02/04/202503/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 593 Views 1 Comment Shark 02

The Australian Defence Force today commemorated the 20th anniversary of the crash of Navy Westland Sea King Mk 50 helicopter,

A RAAF F-35 Lightning II does a flypast during the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, Victoria. Photo by John Jennings.

ADF News Royal Australian Air Force

Australian International Air Show 2025 wrapped up

01/04/202504/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1578 Views 2 Comments

Chief of Air Force has praised the support of Royal Australian Air Force personnel who contributed to a hugely successful

Geelong High School students watch as a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter prepares to land on the school oval during a visit by Royal Australian Navy personnel. Photo by Warrant Officer Ricky Fuller.

News Royal Australian Navy

RAN chopper visits Victorian schools

01/04/202501/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 810 Views 0 Comments

Two Victorian schools received a special visit as a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter and its crew touched down, offering

Commander 3 Brigade Brigadier Ben McLennan addresses executives from the Australian Industry Group (AIG) during a visit to Lavarack Barracks, Townsville on 13 March 2025. Photo by Major Gabrielle Taylor.

Australian Army News

Australian Industry Group visits ‘premier garrison city’

01/04/202501/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 740 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Industry Group (AIG) conducted a three-day tour of significant industry sites in Townsville in March. CAPTION: Commander 3