Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Armament fitters from 1 Squadron, Leading Aircraftman Ethan Collingwood, left, and Aircraftwoman Hunter Glover, loading rounds into an ammunition loader at the bomb preparation area at RAAF Base Townsville during Exercise Black Dagger. Story by Flight Lieutenant Gerard Reed. Photo by Corporal Brett Sheriff.

Gunnies on target during Exercise Black Dagger

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1530 Views 0 Comments Exercise Black Dagger, No. 1 Squadron

Aircraft Armament Technicians or ‘gunnies’ from 1 Squadron demonstrated their skill and team expertise at Exercise Black Dagger in the

Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern of 35 Squadron photographs vessels out of a RAAF C-27J Spartan during Operation Solania. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Trained eyes scan the big blue

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1567 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Forum Fisheries Agency, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania

The mission of those deployed on Operation Solania could be compared to looking for a needle in a haystack. CAPTION: Loadmaster

Petty Officer Jenna Shiel and Leading Seaman Amanda Bourke receive a V8 Super Car hot lap in recognition of their service for their voluntary support of the veteran community. Story by Lieutenant Rebeca Williamson.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Hot lap a career highlight

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1262 Views 0 Comments Tickford Racing

Squeezing into the roll cage of a Monster Energy Gen3 Mustang and hitting speeds of up to 242km/h is not an

A RAAF Boeing P-8 Poseidon (left) taxis past two E-7A Wedgetails at RAAF Base Williamtown in readiness for the Air Force Newcastle Williamtown Air Show 2023. Story by Flying Officer Jamie Wallace. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

History News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Newcastle Williamtown Air Show inspires

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3574 Views 0 Comments Air Show, RAAF Williamtown

The latest and greatest in Defence capability thrilled almost 85,000 people on November 18 and 19 during the Newcastle Williamtown

Air battle manager Flying Officer Kim Petterson performs start-up checks on a G-Wagon Command Post Module being trialled under Project Bandicoot. Story by Corporal Veronica O'Hara. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Piecing together the air battlespace puzzle

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1696 Views 0 Comments Air Battle Manager (ABM), No. 114MRCU

WHEN fighter jets are tearing through active military airspace ready for combat, it’s air battle managers (ABM) on the other

A soldier rests on arms during a service marking the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial in Adelaide. Story by Pilot Officer Shanea Zeegers . Photo by Sergeant Nicci Freeman.

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

10th anniversary of Indigenous war memorial

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1195 Views 0 Comments Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial, Governor-General, Indigenous

ADF members from the Adelaide region have joined with members of the Indigenous and veteran’s community and the broader Adelaide

(L-R) Commander Air Force Training Group Air Commodore David Strong, Commanding Officer Institute of Aviation Medicine Wing Commander Riannon Quemard and Commander Air Warfare Centre Air Commodore Adrian Maso during the transfer of command ceremony at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Air Academy takes command of aviation medicine

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1745 Views 0 Comments Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM), RAAF Edinburgh

Command of the Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM), at RAAF Base Edinburgh, was formally transferred from Air Warfare Centre to

Centenarian and Bomber Command Veteran Angus Hughes cuts his birthday cake with veterans, Group Captain Greg Weller and members of 462 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Pilot Officer Shanea Zeegers. by Sergeant David Cotton.

ADF People History Veterans

Bomber Command veteran turns 100

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3088 Views 0 Comments No. 462 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, WWII

World War II Bomber Command veteran Angus Hughes recently celebrated his 100th birthday at RAAF Base Edinburgh. CAPTION: Centenarian and Bomber

Trainees from the Armed Forces of Ukraine receive instruction from Australian Army trainers deployed on Operation Kudu in the UK. Story and photo by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Zerbe.

Australian Army News Overseas

Diggers prepare Ukrainian citizen soldiers

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2028 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu

More Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) personnel have commenced training for combat under the instruction of Australian Army soldiers in

An Australian Army special operations force soldier studies Tok Pisin during language training at the ADF School of Special Operations at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army News

Special-ops students immerse in language lessons

24/11/202328/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1855 Views 0 Comments 1st Commando Regiment, ADF School of Special Operations (ADFSSO), Australian Defence Force School of Languages, PNGDF

Two Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers flew in to Sydney to bolster the depth of ADF School of

An Australian Army electric protected mobility vehicle demonstrated the capability to provide power to enable a medical treatment team to deploy in the field at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Electric Bushmaster tested in the field

24/11/202309/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2062 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, electric protected mobility vehicle (ePMV), Gallipoli Barracks, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office (RICO)

The Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office (RICO) has trialled the electric protected mobility vehicle (ePMV) with a

Warrant Officer Don Kenny, left, is presented with his Defence Long Service Medal, sixth bar (2nd Federation Star), by Chief of Staff Air Force Headquarters Air Commodore James Badgery. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor.

ADF People

A long career behind the camera

21/11/202321/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1223 Views 0 Comments photography

After more than 47 years behind the lens, Warrant Officer Don Kenny still likes nothing more than to take the

Australian Army cook Private Aaron Blair prepares food for deployed personnel at the Camp Clark deployable kitchen at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Story by Major Roger Brennan. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

Australian Army News

Boosting morale one plate at a time

21/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1441 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

Army cook Private Aaron Blair prepared and delivered the first meal soldiers, sailors and aviators ate at Camp Clark, Solomon

The National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System fires an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile during its first Australian live-fire at Woomera Test Range in South Australia. Story and photos by Private Nicholas Marquis.

Australian Army News

New National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile tested

21/11/202309/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2048 Views 0 Comments 16th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, AMRAAM missiles, Chief of Army, Defence Strategic Review, HX77 Truck, NASAMS, Woomera Test Range

The roar of the rocket engine broke through the silence as the first Australian live-fire of the National Advanced Surface

Leading Seaman Kalani Brinkmeier (left) and Able Seaman Samuel Speakman from HMAS Toowoomba on the flight deck during flying operation as part of Operation Argos. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

News Royal Australian Navy Videos

Toowoomba supports North Korea sanctions – sailors hurt

21/11/202321/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3142 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Argos, Regional Presence Deployment, united Nations Security Council

The crew of HMAS Toowoomba have supported United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea during a regional presence deployment.

Corporal Casey Childs, a supplier with RAAF 33 Squadron, checks inventory at Gimhae Air Base, in South Korea during Exercise Vigilant Defense 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Going global with supply role

21/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1106 Views 0 Comments ADF Gap Year, Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Korea, No. 33 Squadron

Air Force Corporal Casey Childs has come a long way since moving around during her childhood and settling in the

News Royal Australian Air Force

UXO demolition needs steady hands

17/11/202321/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1502 Views 0 Comments EOD, No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), UXO

Disposing of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on an air weapons range is no small feat, and requires skilled technicians from across

ADV Cape Capricorn's seaboat is recovered with the help of Private Crosher under the guidance of the davit operator, Leading Seaman Matthew Anderson, during a sea-experience day.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

Army sea riders get valuable exposure

17/11/202319/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1649 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, ADV Cape Capricorn, HMAS Coonawarra, Maritime Border Command

Personnel from Army’s 1st Brigade, Maritime Border Command and HMAS Coonawarra embarked one of Navy’s newest assets – ADV Cape

Members of the Australian Defence Force abseil 130 metres down the Central Park Tower in Perth's CBD for the annual Central Park Plunge, raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Story by Stephanie Hallen. Photo b y Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Taking the plunge for a cancer cause

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1316 Views 0 Comments No. 25 Squadron

A whopping 130 metres above St George’s Terrace in the Perth CBD, members of the Navy, Army and Air Force

RAAF Sergeant Ryan Pedder travelled to the central coast to have his haircut by Instagram content maker Nick Senem. Story by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Barber chair conversations for mental health

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1252 Views 0 Comments mental health, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown, Top Blokes Foundation

Sergeants Ryan Pedder and Connor O’Neill and Leading Aircraftman Liam Ramsay took a seat in the barber chair to have