Posted by Mike Hughes – CONTACT magazine

n MQ-28A Ghost Bat is loaded with a NAIM-120 inert air-to-air missile variant at the ordnance loading area during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia. Story by Squadron Leader Chris Moon. Photos by Aircraftman Ivan Smotrov.

Ghost Bat hits target in live fire

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 644 Views 0 Comments MQ-28A Ghost Bat, RAAF Woomera

The Australian designed and manufactured MQ-28A Ghost Bat achieved another major milestone, becoming one of the first collaborative combat aircraft

An Australian Army military working dog engages a professional K9 decoy during the Irondog K9 Adaptive Deployment Workshop at Rakula in the Northern Territory. Story by Lieutenant Colonel Carrie Robards. Photos by Captain Jeremy Wikner.

Australian Army K9 Training News

Dogs and handlers sink their teeth into workshop

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 471 Views 0 Comments Military Working Dogs

A group of Army military working dogs (MWDs) and handlers practised their often dangerous and unpredictable work in the red

Royal Australian Air Force officers Air Commodore Adam Spinks, left, and Air Commodore Bill Hayden unveil the Australian Armourers Association plaque at the RAAF Memorial Grove, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Memorial enshrines Air Force ‘gunnies’

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 402 Views 0 Comments

More than a century after Australian aircrew first dropped bombs over the Middle East, a memorial has been dedicated to

Soldiers from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct an urban assault with soldiers from the Indonesian National Armed Forces, at Robertson Barracks, NT. Story by Captain Nicholas Marquis. Photos by Private Oscar Hanson

Australian Army News

Exercise with allies ends on a high

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 424 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Exercise Wirra Jaya, Indonesian National Armed Forces

Handshakes, high-fives, patch swapping and a good old laugh – what better way to finish an exercise. CAPTION: Soldiers from

Medical officer Flight Lieutenant Alannah Frazzetto, of 1 Expeditionary Health Services, Royal Australian Air Force, serves on Operation Gateway at RMAF Butterworth, Malaysia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Brent Moloney. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Teams behind the scenes on Op Gateway

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 332 Views 0 Comments Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircrew flew long sorties over the North Indian Ocean or the South China Sea

Combat assault dog, Fax, posthumously receives an Australian Animal Distinguished Service Medal at a ceremony at Special Air Service Regiment in Perth. Story by Major S.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Combat assault dog honoured

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 646 Views 1 Comment Afghanistan, Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, Military Working Dogs

In a moving ceremony in Perth last month, Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) combat assault dog, Fax, posthumously received the

Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force personnel with the new Kenworth prime mover truck at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

New vehicles to keep Army on the move

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 977 Views 1 Comment RAAF Amberley

Updated collision mitigation, braking technology, digitised fleet management and driver assist systems are some of the features of the new

Pilots from four nations – the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, second from right, and United States Air Force sit in the cockpit of a CC-177 Globemaster (701) during a flight to Canadian Forces Station Alert. Story by Taster Murdoch. Photos by Corporal Gwyneth Lovell, Canadian Armed Forces.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Operation Boxtop on top of the world

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 481 Views 0 Comments Canadian Armed Forces, No. 36 Squadron, Operation Boxtop, US Air Force

Members from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 36 Squadron joined international forces for Operation Boxtop to resupply bases in the

Ship's company of HMA Ships Bathurst, Albany and Childers line the decks during the decommissioning ceremony held at HMAS Coonawarra, in the Northern Territory. Story by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Martin. Photos by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

News Royal Australian Navy

Armidale-class sails into history

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 506 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, decommissioning, HMAS Albany, HMAS Bathurst, HMAS Childers, HMAS Coonawarra

Navy has formally farewelled the three remaining Armidale-class patrol boats, HMA Ships Albany, Bathurst and Childers, in a solemn decommissioning ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin.

Army soldiers and officers from the 1st Aviation Regiment stand on parade in Gaza Lines at Robertson Barracks, NT. Story and photos by Captain Chloe Ellwood.

Australian Army News

Parades mark Army aviation milestones

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 479 Views 0 Comments 16th Aviation Brigade, 1st Aviation Regiment, AH-64E Apache, Robertson Barracks

The 16th Aviation Brigade marked several key milestones at two ceremonial parades this month. CAPTION: Army soldiers and officers from

Australian and Philippine Army mortarmen fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Kasangga. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Philippines engagement taken to new level

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 456 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), Philippines

The Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines completed their largest dedicated program of training and expertise exchange

Corporal Tiger Jefferys with his gold medal awarded from Exercise Cambrian Patrol, at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, In October. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

ADF People Australian Army

Army names outstanding junior leader

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 338 Views 0 Comments 1RAR, Duke of Gloucester Cup

A section commander of 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), who led the winning Duke of Gloucester (DoG) Cup

An Australian Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter flies through Blacktown, NSW, during a training exercise. Story by Captain Chloe Ellwood. Photo by Private C.

Australian Army News

New Blackhawks conduct urban training

05/12/202507/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 913 Views 1 Comment 16th Aviation Brigade, counter-terrorism, UH-60M Black Hawk

Australian Army personnel conducted aviation training with UH-60M Black Hawks across the greater Sydney and Goulburn regions throughout October and

Members of HMAS Ballarat's ship's company prepare to scatter the ashes of four Royal Australia Navy sailors and one Royal Navy sailor during a committal of ashes to the sea ceremony off the coast of Australia. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

One final wish: Committal of ashes to the sea

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 850 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat

HMAS Ballarat has honoured the life and service of four former Royal Australian Navy members and one Royal Navy sailor by committing

Australian and Philippine Air Force members and representatives of Wheelchairs for Kids and the Angeles City Returned Services League, with two of the wheelchairs delivered to Clark Air Base, Philippines.

Asia Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Wheelchairs fly so children can thrive

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 629 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, C-130J Hercules, RAAF Richmond, RSL

On November 18, some important and precious Christmas gifts sat on board a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules. CAPTION:

54th Siege Battery trains at Puckapunyal Military Area during Exercise Verbranden Road, honing skills with the high mobility artillery rocket system. Story by Major Tim Sydenham. Photos by Catlin Heggie.

Australian Army News

Battery refines shoot-and-scoot tactics with HIMARS

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 728 Views 0 Comments 54th Siege Battery, Exercise Verbranden Road, HIMARS, Puckapunyal

The accelerated delivery program of the high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) continued with Exercise Verbranden Road last month. CAPTION:

Pathfinder Association representative Jeff McClenaughan awards 35 Squadron the Squadron of the Year trophy during the 2025 Pathfinders Awards at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

Archives Royal Australian Air Force

Air Mobility Group honours high flyers

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 380 Views 0 Comments Air Mobility Group (AMG), RAAF Richmond

The annual Air Mobility Group Pathfinder Awards held at RAAF Base Richmond have honoured the group’s highest performers and innovators.

Army’s new AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer fires during training at Puckapunyal, Victoria. Photos by Belinda Dinami.

Australian Army News

Aussie soldiers fire new AS9 Huntsman

03/12/202507/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1136 Views 1 Comment 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicle, AS9 Huntsman, School of Artillery

For the first time, Australian soldiers fired the cutting-edge AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzer on Australian soil on December 1,

Flight Lieutenants Alyssa Vickridge and Sophie Lanson, Wing Commander Lauren Guest, Flight Lieutenants Harriette Parker and Sharlene Huiskes, with Flying Officer Bun Tang, after the cyclone. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF Base Darwin stands firm against Fina

03/12/202503/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 690 Views 0 Comments cyclone, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

Not since Cyclone Tracy in 1974 has a weather event as severe as Tropical Cyclone Fina impacted the Darwin coastline

A relative of Flight Lieutenant Ross Frayne – a World War 2 and Korean War veteran who died in a crash at RAAF Base Mallala in 1955 – places a poppy on a commemorative wreath at the new Air Force memorial at the South Australian Aviation Museum. Story by Group Captain Greg Weller.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Air Force commemorates peacetime sacrifice

03/12/202503/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 756 Views 1 Comment Aircraft Research and Development Unit, RAAF Edinburgh, South Australian Aviation Museum

Attendees gathered at the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM) to witness the Dedication and Inaugural Commemorative Service of a new

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