Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Australian Army soldiers from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, departing Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane as part of the Australian Defence Force response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Photo by Corporal Janet Pam.

Updates as of 11 March 2025 Support for Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred

11/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 916 Views 0 Comments Operation Tropical Cyclone Alfred Assist

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), emergency authorities in Queensland and

People’s Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Updates 9 March 2025 – People’s Liberation Army–Navy vessels operating near Australia

11/03/202511/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2016 Views 0 Comments

People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Task Group 107, comprised of the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class Cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class

d guests attend the HMAS Perth I memorial foundation ceremony, commemorating the Battle of Saunda Strait, at Training Ship Perth in Fremantle, WA. Story by Petty Officer Keigan Gunther. Photos by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Perth I Memorial unveiled

07/03/202511/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1033 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth, HMAS Perth I, WWII

The HMAS Perth I memorial was inaugurated in East Fremantle recently by the Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson and

A RAAF 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail aircraft takes off for a mission during Exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA Videos

Mission ready for Bamboo Eagle

07/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 947 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Bamboo Eagle, No. 2 Squadron

Exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1, held at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, strengthened RAAF and its coalition partners’ capabilities to

Air Force service medallions, from left, recognising 20, 10 and four years of service. Photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

ADF People Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

New recognition for transitioning personnel

07/03/202516/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1388 Views 7 Comments

From March 1, all transitioning full-time ADF personnel will receive a testimonial to recognise their contribution before their final date

Members of HMAS Choules’ flight deck team prepare an Army CH-47 Chinook for take-off during deck-landing practice while off the coast of Townsville. Story by Chief Petty Officer Helen Frank. Photos by Able Seaman Danyellah Hill.

News Royal Australian Navy

Doing the safety dance at sea

07/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 809 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, HMAS Choules

HMAS Choules has been training with the big boys of aviation. CAPTION: Members of HMAS Choules’ flight deck team prepare an

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF aims high in combat casualty care

07/03/202516/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 762 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan, No. 1 Security Forces Squadron., No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AMES), RAAF Amberley, RAAF Reserve

Getting ‘comfortable with the uncomfortable’ was the objective for specialist reserve and permanent Royal Australian Air Force health clinicians of

The delivery of the last trucks in the Land 121 medium heavy vehicle program are received. Story by Eamon McCaughan.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

Last truck load delivered

07/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 717 Views 0 Comments Rheinmetall MAN

The Land 121 medium heavy truck program, which has been running for more than a decade, has delivered its final

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band members at the Rats hall in Melbourne. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History

Band gives a shout-out for new members

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 605 Views 0 Comments Edinburgh Tattoo, WWII

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band has carried its music across the globe, from the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to

A RAAF P-8A Poseidon participates in a maritime cooperative activity with Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Hobart, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Akizuki, Philippine Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal and US Navy ship USS Benfold. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Places to go, counterparts to see

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 697 Views 0 Comments Exercise La Perouse, HMAS Hobart, P-8A Poseidon, Regional Presence Deployment, Royal Navy, US Air Force

The first regional presence deployment (RPD) for 2025 has opened HMAS Hobart to a number of training opportunities with counterparts from

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft receives fuel from a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport over Iraq as part of the Air Task Group for Operation Okra. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photos by Sergeant Mick Davis.

Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Air-to-air refuellers kept Operation Okra flying

05/03/202520/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 719 Views 0 Comments F/A-18F Super Hornet, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Operation Okra

Flying a Classic Hornet loaded with bombs over Iraq in 2016, Air Commodore Philip Gordon had a problem. CAPTION: A Royal

An Australian Army soldier serving on Operation Kudu instructs Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel on section attack tactics. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

From dream job to nightmare of Russian invasion

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5057 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Interflex, Operation Kudu, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Olena was at her dream job, a personal trainer at a successful gym, when she heard news of Russia’s invasion

Stand-up comedian Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann performs at Camp Baird Headquarters in the Middle East for deployed ADF personnel during the Forces Entertainment Tour. Story and photo: byLeading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Comedian’s admiration for troops is no joke

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 915 Views 0 Comments Forces Entertainment Tour, Iraq

Route Irish, a 12-kilometre stretch of highway in Baghdad, Iraq, was once considered the most dangerous road in the world.

A medical team from Army’s 2nd Health Battalion during Operation Render Safe 24-2, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Pacific

Army medics treat and train locals in Solomons

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 636 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Operation Render Safe, Solomon Islands

Crocodile and pig attacks are not the typical injuries orthopaedic surgeon Major Darren Paterson is accustomed to. CAPTION: A medical team

Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilot Captain Nakanishi, United States Air Force pilot Lieutenant Mike Watson and Royal Australian Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Ryan Turner during Exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos: by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes thrice in Guam

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 809 Views 0 Comments Andersen AFB, Exercise Cope North, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 75 Squadron, US Air Force

For the first time, the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud on the Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator course with his peers and mentors at HMAS Albatross, NSW. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

From Yam Island to the Middle East and beyond

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 615 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, HMAS Cairns, Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator (RIDC)

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud remembers Navy crew visiting his island home when he was just a child. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Roneld

Brigadier Deane Limmer holds a Blue Bar Cock pigeon at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army History News

Flying in the face of danger

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 884 Views 0 Comments Dickin Medal, National Day for War Animals, Royal Australian Corps of Signals

In 1944, a small patrol of US marines hacked through dense jungle towards a waiting enemy. CAPTION: Brigadier Deane Limmer holds

Personnel from Navy's Leadership Management Development Centre with NRL referees and staff at HMAS Penguin.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

NRL tackles leadership skills with Navy

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 396 Views 0 Comments HMAS Penguin

Navy recently welcomed leadership teams, support staff and referees from the National Rugby League (NRL) elite officiating teams to undertake

Soldiers from the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, conduct a room clearance at the close-quarter battle area of the open-plan weapons training simulation system at Robertson Barracks in Darwin. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army News

Game-changer for close-quarter battle skills

04/03/202504/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 653 Views 1 Comment 5/7 RAR, OP WTSS, Robertson Barracks

A new $17 million combat simulation facility, featuring 840 square metres of manoeuvrable floor space and a close-quarter battle range,

Gunners from 102nd Battery, 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery participate in the re-enactment of the Bombing of Darwin. Story and photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Darwin bombing a call to defend the north

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 684 Views 2 Comments 8th/12th Regiment RAA, RAAF Darwin, WWII

From RAAF Base Darwin, a young Brian Winspear saw Japanese bombs glinting in the sun like confetti above Darwin on