Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

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.

Defence commemorates 20th anniversary of ‘Shark 02’ crash

02/04/202503/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 826 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 1896 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 985 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 934 Views 0 Comments

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

A C-27J Spartan fires flares during an aerial display at the Australian International Airshow 2025, Avalon. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

News Royal Australian Air Force

C-27J Spartan hits 10 years in RAAF

01/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1168 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan

From the rugged terrain of the Australian Outback to the tropical jungles of Papua New Guinea, C-27J Spartan has proven

Sergeant Paul Scandura of 19 Squadron oversees locally engaged civilians constructing aircraft pallets to support a Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) rotation. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Michael Gosney.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Locally engaged civilians upskill at Butterworth

01/04/202501/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1066 Views 0 Comments RMAF Butterworth

An unheralded but crucial group of enablers in the projection of Australian air power in Southeast Asia have just added

Sam Boyd and his partner pose in front of an F-35 fighter after Mr Boyd's appointment as a RAAF officer, at No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Former US Navy pilot commissioned into RAAF

01/04/202501/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1159 Views 0 Comments

Former United States Navy F/A-18 pilot and contracted civilian F-35A simulator instructor Sam Boyd has been appointed an officer in

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the Cultana Training Area, SA during Exercise Rhino Run 24. Photo by Corporal Johnny Huang.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Unjust Treatment of 1st Armoured Regiment: Who Should Apologise?

30/03/202530/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1149 Views 0 Comments

FILE PHOTO (May 2024): An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the

Editor's Vlog

Cutting huge slab from basement floor

29/03/202529/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1021 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Here’s a biggie for ya – the largest slab I’ve cut from the floor in my shed basement. Manhandling this

The wreck of No 454 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Baltimore FW282, which was shot down during the conduct of a maritime reconnaissance mission on 3 December 1943. The wreck was located by AegeanTec in July 2024, with confirmation of the identity of the aircraft made in December 2024. Photo supplied by AegeanTec.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Air Force UK Veterans

WWII RAAF bomber found off Greece

27/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1565 Views 0 Comments

A Royal Australian Air Force Baltimore bomber aircraft, which was lost while on an operational mission during the Second World

A Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) is released from a No. 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornet. Image supplied.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Long Range Anti-Ship Missile certified for RAAF use

23/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1636 Views 1 Comment AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, LRASM

Australia has significantly upgrade the Australian Defence Force’s maritime strike capability following a successful live firing of the AGM-158C Long

Able Seaman Matthew Dockrill conducts a routine inspection between the after body and fuel cell of a MK48 Heavy Weight Torpedo in the Torpedo Maintenance Facility at the Navy Guided Weapons Systems Program Office-West on HMAS Stirling. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko.

News Royal Australian Navy

Another $200million worth of torpedos ordered

23/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1599 Views 0 Comments MK-48 Heavy Weight Torpedo

Australia is enhancing the lethality of its submarine fleet under a $200million agreement with the United States to acquire additional

Editor's Vlog

Flooring the courtyard

22/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1117 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Most of the action in this video happened on a sad Saint Patrick’s day. Sad, because I found out it

STS Young Endeavour heading towards Fremantle Port after a year-long circumnavigation of the world. Royal Australian Navy photo.

CONTACT Cadets

Young Endeavour replacement delayed – without explanation

21/03/202521/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1314 Views 0 Comments STS Young Endeavour

Almost six years ago, the then government announced that Sail Training Ship Endeavour would be replaced by the end of

1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams tanks in Puslatpur, Indonesia, during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Bond Formed by Tank Crews

16/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1888 Views 3 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment

Admiral Johnston, the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), graduated as a naval officer in 1982. His career has involved

Editor's Vlog

Three steps and I’m outside

15/03/202515/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1129 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

I had a great weekend away last week, with extended family, for a significant milestone – so the week got

HMAS Brisbane is one of the Hobart-class destroyers in the fleet. Photo by Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.

News Royal Australian Navy

$200million for new navy radio network

13/03/202513/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1681 Views 0 Comments

Communication systems on Royal Australian Navy ships will be upgraded under a $200million program with Boeing Defence Australia. FILE PHOTO:

Soldiers from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, arrive in Lismore on Friday, 7 March 2025, to assist northern NSW communities in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Photo by WO2 Raymond Vance.

Australian Army News

ADF members injured in truck crash during flood-relief response

09/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2860 Views 0 Comments Cyclone Alfred

Several Australian Defence Force members were injured, some seriously, when two trucks crashed while responding to community needs in the

Editor's Vlog

1 step, 2 step, tricky under there

08/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1426 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

In this video, I install the second step to get me out of the hole I dug in my basement.

Editor's Vlog

Starting the stairs to my basement pit

01/03/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 955 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This week, I turned around and started upwards – the stairs to get me out of this hole I dug myself