Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Soldiers from 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment, sharpen their infantry skills during Exercise Shrike Launch at Cultana Training Area, South Australia. Story by Captain Peter March. Photos by Sergeant Peng Zhang.

10/27RSAR test combat skills

Soldiers from the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment (10/27RSAR), seized the opportunity to sharpen their combat skills during Exercise

Flight Lieutenant Joelene Buntain at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Adelaide. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

ADF People

Aviator reaches for the stars

16/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1074 Views 0 Comments Australian Space Command

As Defence Space Command looks to the stars, one of its aviators is an expert on what happens when those

Australian Army Reserve soldiers from Battle Group Waratah patrol the main street of Ingham, Queensland, while carrying out protection operations as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photos by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News

A new experience for reservists

16/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1723 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Exercise Talisman Sabre

More than 200 members of Battle Group Waratah played a very different role during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 than in

Participants take part in a soccer competition as part of the Exercise Malabar 2023 shore phase in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Matildas’ magic sweeps navies

16/08/202319/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1397 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Exercise Malabar

The Matildas’ magic has swept through Exercise Malabar, with the four participating nations staging a ‘curtain opener’ soccer tournament in

Major Jason Savage gives instruction to Flight Lieutenants Victoria Hathaway and Sian Denton in dealing with facial trauma as part of their ADF Dental Officer training. Story by Richard Wilkins. Photos by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

ADF taking on cavities

16/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1463 Views 0 Comments ADF Dental School

For the first time, students at the ADF Dental School did their maxillofacial training at Melbourne University, giving them valuable

Chief Petty Officer Simon Steyn with his mother Jackie and father Nick on HMAS Onslow in the UK, prior to the O-boat arriving in Australia in 1969.

ADF People History

Like father, like sons, like subs

16/08/202319/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1446 Views 0 Comments Submarine

The smell of diesel would reach up the stairwell to a third-floor Lilyfield apartment before the man coated in it

An Australian Army soldier from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment after a combined arms live-fire serial on Exercise Brolga Sprint 23 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story by Captain Joanne Leca. Photos by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Australian Army News Videos

US forces join diggers on Brolga Sprint

16/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2490 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, 4th Regiment, Exercise Brolga Spirit, US Army

United States Army units were invited to join Australia’s 3rd Brigade on its annual culminating live-fire activity at Townsville Field

Australian Army cook Corporal Samantha Kenafake, of 10th Force Support Battalion, prepares pizza for soldiers at Camp Growl, Shoalwater Bay Training Area, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photos by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

Australian Army News Talisman Sabre

Compliments to the chefs

16/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1339 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, Exercise Talisman Sabre

Sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking, but that’s not an option for the Army catering team from the 10th

Drones flying above an enemy position demonstrate in concept surveillance (green), electronic warfare (blue), and attack (orange) capabilities during a human-machine team exercise at Puckapunyal Military Area. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

A swarm of technological advances

16/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1506 Views 0 Comments drones, M113, National Science Week, optionally crewed combat vehicle, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO)

Dozens of drones fly undetected above an enemy position feeding real-time surveillance back to the commander while he prepares a

Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro at the Defence National Science Week Launch at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Lauren Larking

ADF News

‘Lunch and Learn’ for advanced science

16/08/202322/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1233 Views 0 Comments DSTG, National Science Week

Directed-energy weapons and quantum technology were up for discussion as Defence celebrated the launch of National Science Week with a

NUSHIP Arafura Petty Officer Darren Young, left, and Chief Petty Officer Matthew Hitchcock, observe Royal Brunei Navy sailors during a fire-fighting exercise aboard KDB Darulehsan off the coast of Brunei. Photo by Rhody Gleeson.

News Royal Australian Navy

Future OPV operators learn from Royal Brunei Navy

16/08/202322/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1498 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, NUSHIP Arafura, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBLF)

Bringing a new Royal Australian Navy ship into service naturally brings some challenges – especially when it is only the

Australian Army Chaplain Major Haydn Parsons serving communion to US Army personnel during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 at Camp Growl in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People

Faith in the field

15/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1086 Views 0 Comments 9 Force Support Battalion., Chaplains, Exercise Talisman Sabre

Chaplain Haydn Parsons was in a dark place when inspiration struck. CAPTION: Australian Army Chaplain Major Haydn Parsons serving communion to

Members of 1st Battallion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys at RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Alon during Indo-Pacific Endeavour. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photos by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Philippine and Australian forces embarked on HMAS Canberra

15/08/202320/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2292 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, IPE, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, MV-22 Osprey, RAAF Darwin, USMC

Personnel from Philippine and Australian forces have embarked HMAS Canberra in Darwin in preparation for Exercise Alon, which is being

RAAF Medical technician Corporal Brett Leddy from 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron directs the transport of a patient into the back of a G-Wagon ambulance. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force Talisman Sabre

Providing ‘Role 2 Forward’ medical support at RAAF Base Curtin

15/08/202320/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1906 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, G-wagon, No. 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron, RAAF Curtin

When it comes to the activation of a remote air field, providing health support to nearly 700 people becomes the

An Australian Army M113AS4 armoured logistics vehicle, fitted with optionally crewed combat vehicle technology and a remote weapon station, fires from a support-by-fire position during a human-machine team exercise. Story and photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Army’s RICO in the field

15/08/202326/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2434 Views 1 Comment M113, optionally crewed combat vehicle, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO)

With technology advancing rapidly, armies that don’t keep up will be highly vulnerable. CAPTION: An Australian Army M113AS4 armoured logistics vehicle,

HMAS Brisbane's ship’s company observe the Sydney Harbour fleet entry for Exercise Malabar 2023. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Brisbane leads international fleet into Sydney

11/08/202313/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2601 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar

Air defence and anti-submarine warfare are some drills planned for the 27th iteration of Exercise Malabar, hosted by Australia for

Royal Australian Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technician Sergeant Troy Garland from 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron prepares to conduct a simulated improvised explosive device training drill at RAAF Base Curtin, Western Australia, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Ready to act on suspicion

11/08/202311/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1972 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, RAAF Curtin

It’s a small thought that many people might have had at some point – ‘that bag’s been left alone a

Flight Lieutenant Garry Cooper (retd) during the Vietnam War in front of a US Air Force O-1 Bird Dog. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks.

ADF People History Veterans

A historic bird: flying with a Vietnam War pilot

11/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2919 Views 0 Comments AWM, Forward Air Controllers, US Army, Vietnam War

The South Vietnamese sky was a smoky orange as dusk approached in July of 1968. The buzz of a United

A Republic of Korea Armed Forces K9 Thunder deployed during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

Australia’s future SPH previewed on TS23

11/08/202313/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 4363 Views 2 Comments 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, Exercise Talisman Sabre, HIMARS, Republic of Korea Armed Forces

South Korean self-propelled howitzers made their Australian debut at Exercise Talisman Sabre, ahead of the planned construction of the Australian-variant

The sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial. Story and photo by Private Nicholas Marquis.

ADF People History Lest We Forget News

Statue a tribute to all military nurses

11/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1865 Views 0 Comments AWM, Service Nurses, WWII

As the sun rose above the Australian War Memorial on August 2, its light touched the face of the first