Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

A memorial wreath is cast from HMAS Ararat’s quarterdeck over the final resting place of HMAS Canberra 1 near Savo Island, Solomon Islands.

Deployment offers opportunity to remember lost WW2 ship

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1471 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ararat, HMAS Canberra (I), Operation Solania, Solomon Islands

The crew of HMAS Ararat took the opportunity while deployed in the south-west Pacific on Operation Solania to hold a

An Australian Army Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment prepares to disembark from one of HMAS Adelaide's Landing Craft near Cowley Beach Training Area, during Exercise Sea Explorer 2022. Story by Captain Joanne Leca. Photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy USA Videos

Amphibious capabilities enhanced

22/06/202205/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3085 Views 0 Comments 2/14LHR(QMI), Boxer CRV, CH-47F Chinook, Exercise Sea Explorer, Exercise Sea Raider, HMAS Adelaide, M777 Howitzer, Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, US Navy

The amphibious Exercise Sea Explorer 2022 has come to an end. CAPTION: An Australian Army Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle from

Dr Andrew Phillips, right, and welding engineer Joe Donato from the Defence Science and Technology Group at the DSTG research facility at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne. Story and photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Steel used in Navy shipbuilding put through extreme tests

22/06/202227/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1617 Views 0 Comments DST, DSTG

Freezing steel plates and blowing them up are ways scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Group ensure materials used in

Senior Constable Adrien Lamu and working dog Nym from the RPNGC K-9 unit prepare to board a RAAF C-27J Spartan as part of Operation Kimba. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Videos

PNG canine squad travels in style with RAAF

22/06/202222/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2047 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, C-27J Spartan, Military Working Dogs, No. 23 Squadron, Operation Kimba, RPNGC, Service Dogs

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has helped move the highly skilled Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) canine squad across

Mr Max Johnson with some of the many components from the Martin Baker Mk1E seat for Meteor A77-851 (aka ‘Halestorm’). Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Stewart Gould.

ADF People History

Volunteers bring new life to historical aircraft

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1486 Views 0 Comments RAAF Amberley, RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre

Mr Max Johnson is just one of many volunteers who donate their spare time and a lifetime’s worth of valuable

Chaplain Franc Ahlin participates in a church service for National Prayer Day at the Seymour Baptist church on June 4. Story by Major Carrie Robards. Photo by Private Andrew Norman.

ADF People

Prayer day focuses on people in uniform

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1351 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Combined Arms Training Centre

A number of prayer sessions were held on the National Day of Prayer to show support for members in uniform.

Royal Australian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Andrew Harrigan speaks to guests during the Sir Ross Smith commemorative service held at St Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide. Photo by Sergeant Murray Staff.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Distinguished military aviator honoured

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1974 Views 0 Comments Middle East, No. 1 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh

One of Australia’s most distinguished military aviators, Sir Ross Macpherson Smith, was honoured at a commemorative service held at St

Students participating in the Indigenous Youth Program at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Emily Egan.

ADF People

Indigenous students get a taste of Air Force life

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1463 Views 0 Comments Indigenous Youth Program, RAAF Amberley

RAAF Base Amberley recently hosted a group of participants in the Defence Indigenous Youth Work Program. CAPTION: Students participating in

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Sergeant Ben Russell, left, speaks with US Air Force Technical Sergeant Eric Wiershcem at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Story by Staff Sergeant John Linzmeier and Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Staff Sergeant Alan Ricker (USAF).

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Working together improves aerial dexterity

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1889 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Exercise Global Dexterity, No. 36 Squadron, US Air Force

Exercise Global Dexterity in Hawaii allowed C-17A Globemaster III crews from Australia and the United States to work as a

Operation Kimba Contingent Commander Wing Commander Michael Rouhan, right, speaks with Superintendent Steven Francis from the Royal PNG Constabulary at the Air Movements Wing – Port Moresby. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Spartan takes off for PNG election support

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1873 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Kimba, Papua New Guinea

A RAAF C-27J Spartan flight carrying 20 personnel from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) marked the beginning of air

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Janet Mulder from No. 452 Squadron Amberley Flight, in front of the Air Traffic Control Tower, during Exercise Vigilant Scimitar at Charters Towers Airport, Queensland. Story by Captain Carolyn Barnett. Photo by Corporal Jarrod McAneney.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Eyes in the sky for Exercise Vigilant Scimitar

17/06/202217/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1922 Views 0 Comments 16th Aviation Brigade, No. 44 Wing, No. 452 Squadron, Vigilant Scimitar

The Royal Australian Air Force’s No. 44 Wing deployed a mobile air operations team, including a transportable air operations tower,

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft departs RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Night flights finish for Exercise Diamond Storm

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1988 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler, Exercise Diamond Storm, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

Over the last two weeks, Air Force aviators successfully completed the day and night flying elements of Exercise Diamond Storm

An Australian Army soldier fires an 84mm M4 Carl Gustav medium direct fire support weapon during target illumination serial on the Direct Fire Support Weapons Course at the School of Infantry in Singleton. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

Australian Army News Videos

Ambush: the art of hit and run

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3277 Views 5 Comments Carl Gustaf M4, MAG 58s machine gun, Mk47 automatic grenade launcher, School of Infantry

An 84mm round slams into an enemy infantry fighting vehicle that starts smouldering and rolls to a stop. CAPTION: An

Australian Army officer, Captain Jeremy Fetter at the site of the battle of Valley of Tears in the Golan Heights. Story and photo by Petty Officer Lee-Anne Cooper.

Australian Army Middle East News Overseas

Bonding while keeping the peace

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1835 Views 0 Comments Operation Paladin, UN Truce Supervision Organisation

Captain Jeremy Fetter uses the analogy of umpiring football to explain being a United Nations (UN) military observer in Israel.

Soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces share a traditional Fijian Lovo with Australian Army soldiers from 8/9 RAR during the closing ceremony of Exercise Coral Soldier at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Diggers treated to a Fijian feed

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1994 Views 1 Comment 8/9 RAR, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) soldiers in Brisbane treated their Australian counterparts to a meal cooked in a traditional

Australian Army Gunners from the 105th Battery of the 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, fire a 155mm SMArt anti-armour round from a M777 155mm Howitzer during Exercise Barce 2022 at Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Videos

Today’s forecast: steel rain on Exercise Barce

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2438 Views 1 Comment 1st Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, Exercise Barce, M777 Howitzer, Shoalwater Bay Training Area

Gunners from the 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, sent an abundance of munitions down range during Exercise Barce, with the

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Schroder. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

ADF People

Navy Top Gun’s brush with Maverick

17/06/202217/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2235 Views 0 Comments

If you notice a bearded aviator in the bar scenes of Top Gun: Maverick, it’s probably the Royal Australian Navy’s

Aircraftman Sam Schmidt, from the No. 382 Squadron, marshals a C-130J from RAAF Base Richmond at the Air Movements Wing – Port Moresby. Story by Major Martin Hadley. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Geodhart.

Australian Army Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

ADF supports election in PNG

17/06/202222/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1910 Views 0 Comments C-130J, C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan, Operation Kimba, PNG elections

The main body of Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on Operation Kimba has touched down in Papua New Guinea to

Macquarie University researcher Madison Kho takes a hair sample from a HMAS Canberra crew member to measure cortisol levels. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Scientists at sea to study crew

17/06/202220/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1232 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra

Scientists from Macquarie University sailed in HMAS Canberra from Sydney to Townsville in Queensland as part of a project researching

Flying Officer Kaylee Verrier carries her bike through some muddy terrain during the adventure-networking expedition. Story and photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Adventure group inspired by Space Commander

17/06/202217/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1484 Views 0 Comments Women’s Integrated Networking Groups (WINGs)

The all-female ‘WINGs in the Eyre 22’ cycling crew put the brakes on during their expedition to speak with Commander