News Archives - CONTACT magazine

155mm rounds in the field. (Cropped) photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Defence cancels 155mm forging commitment

29/06/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2458 Views 5 Comments

In a positively-spun statement headlined “Defence’s commitment to domestic manufacturing of large calibre munitions”, the Department of Defence has effectively

Commissioning crew of NUSHIP Arafura before the ship was formally commissioned as HMAS Arafura, at Fleet Base West in Western Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Arafura finally commissioned

29/06/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1187 Views 1 Comment Arafura-class

More than six years after the ship’s keel was laid down and more than three years after she was launched,

Participants of the three week Apprentice Network Technician 'Train the Trainer' session at the Navy Training Systems Centre - Randwick. Story by Lieutenant Rebecca Gonchee.

News Royal Australian Navy

Aegis training moves on shore

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 595 Views 0 Comments Aegis, Apprentice Network Technician (ANT), Navy Training Systems Centre

The Navy Training System Centre Randwick (NTSC-R) has reached a significant milestone in strengthening sovereign training capabilities on the Aegis

Laser cleaning removed hazardous paint and left surfaces intact on a 74-year-old Winjeel aircraft. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell. Photos by Warrant Officer Paul Wendt.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Laser technology could save labour and lives

27/06/202529/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 654 Views 0 Comments History and Heritage – Air Force Restoration Support Section (HH-AF RSS)

Laser technology successfully trialled by History and Heritage – Air Force’s (HH–AF) Restorations Support Section – could revolutionise the removal

Soldiers from 13th Brigade take part in Exercise Litani Combine 2025 at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. Story by Major Dean Benson. Photos by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Australian Army News

Soldiers rehearse homeland security

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 615 Views 1 Comment 13th Brigade, 16th Battalion RWAR, Exercise Litani Combine, Henderson WA

More accustomed to the grey of the Navy uniform, the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia, took on a

Warrant Officers Class 2 Troy Robertson, left, and Jamie Sharp, from the 9th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment, responded to a high-impact vehicle incident. Story and photo by Captain Cath Batch.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing

Training in action at vehicle incident

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 392 Views 0 Comments 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment

For the civilians involved in a high-impact vehicle incident near Rainbow Beach, Queensland, the sight of the Army arriving was

Corporal Jack Murphy, an electronics technician from 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, helped deliver RBS-70 man-portable air-defence systems and training to Ukrainian forces in Poland. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army Europe Uncategorized

Diggers deliver missile training for Ukraine in Poland

27/06/202529/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 395 Views 1 Comment 16th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, NASAMS

Soldiers of 16th Regiment said training Ukrainian Armed Forces to use the RBS-70 was a fitting way to send off

Lance Corporal Jared Willis with his military working dog Dirk at Roberston Barracks in Darwin. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo by Corporal Gregory Scott.

Australian Army K9 Training News

The best-looking MP at 1MP

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 224 Views 0 Comments 1st Military Police Battalion, Military Police, Military Police Dog, Robertson Barracks

The most popular and attractive member of the Military Police (MP) at Robertson Barracks isn’t who you might think. CAPTION: Lance

World War Bomber Command veterans Howard Hendrick and Ray Merrill attend the 2025 Bomber Command Commemorative Service in Adelaide. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Adelaide honours legacy of Bomber Command

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 208 Views 0 Comments Bomber Command, WWII

Air Force personnel joined dignitaries, veterans and the broader community in Adelaide to honour Bomber Command aviators and reflect on

Soldiers of the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on parade with Army reconnaisance helicopters from 1st Aviation Regiment during the Battle of Binh Ba commemoration service held in Darwin. Story by Captain Nicholas Marquis. Photo by Corporal Madhur Chitnis.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Battalion marks Battle of Binh Ba anniversary

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 628 Views 0 Comments 1st Aviation Regiment, 5/7 RAR, Robertson Barracks, Vietnam War

Soldiers and officers of 5/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5/7RAR), commemorated the Battle of Binh Ba with a parade

Aviators from 2 Security Forces Squadron disembark from a Bushmaster during a live-fire section attack activity as part of Exercise Crack Thump 3 at Singleton Military Area. Photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Capability combined for airfield security

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 672 Views 0 Comments Exercise Crack Thump, Exercise Nomad Walk, Military Working Dogs, No. 2 Security Forces Squadron, Singleton, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

An air traffic control tower (ATC) had been taken by enemy forces. The flight of armed Air Force security forces

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat takes off for flight testing during Exercise Carlsbad at RAAF Base Tindal. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology Videos

Ghost Bat spreads its wings in Tindal

25/06/202529/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 808 Views 0 Comments Exercise Carlsbad, MQ-28A Ghost Bat, RAAF Tindal

Exercise Carlsbad has wrapped up at RAAF Base Tindal after the successful deployment and operation of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat

An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, delivers orders during a blank fire trench serial at Townsville Field Training Area. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Australian Army News

Trench warfare doctrine put to the test

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 727 Views 1 Comment 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, Exercise Brolga Spirit, Land Combat College (LCC), M1A2 Abrams

Engineers explosively breach wire obstacles surrounding an enemy trench system, under covering fire from two M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks.

From left, former crew members of Centurion 169041, Barry Hodges, Graham Munsell and Ray Arthur out the front of 1st Armoured Regiment at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Chris and Jan Fenton.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

The story of Australia’s ‘atomic tank’

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 634 Views 2 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment, Centurian tank, RAAF Edinburgh, Vietnam War

It’s believed a Centurion tank sitting in front of the 1st Armoured Regiment is the only tank in the world

Australian Army soldier Gunner Thomas Hayes, from 111 Battery, 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, helps load a Sidewinder missile on a NASAMS High-Mobility Launcher during a live-fire certification activity at Woomera Test Range, South Australia. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army News

Gap-year gunners fire up new capability

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 291 Views 0 Comments 16th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, Gap Year program, NASAMS, Woomera Test Range

Gunner Thomas Hayes reckons he got a better deal than his mates. CAPTION: Australian Army soldier Gunner Thomas Hayes, from 111

Australian Army Soldiers board a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft in support of Operation Beech, at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF News

Troops and aircraft deployed to Middle East

22/06/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 34687 Views 15 Comments Operation Beech

To support Australians seeking to leave the Middle East, Australian Defence Force personnel and aircraft have been deployed to the

Aircraft technician Corporal Samuel Perrin, of 3 Squadron, conducts acceptance testing on the Integrated Training Centre F-35A engine training aids received from the US. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Corporal Cath Kelly.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Hands-on aids boost F-35A maintenance

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1276 Views 0 Comments F-35A Maintenance, Integrated Training Centre (ITC), No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown

Aviation technicians will be able to hone their skills on the most accurate F-35A maintenance training aids, with the arrival

Left to right, Corporal Lowana McDougall, Aircraftwoman Emily Harman, and Private Hope Hutchins from the Australian Defence Force Women's Rugby League team pay respects at the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Captain Jon Stewart. Photos by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Overseas

ADF players honour fallen heroes

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1959 Views 1 Comment ADF Sport, Kokoda Track, PNG, PNGDF, WWII

The Australian Defence Force Women’s Rugby League team visited the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby as part of an

Air Force aircraft technician Corporal Leigh Gammie discusses the F-35A Lightning II aircraft with veterans from the Merewether Hamilton Adamstown RSL sub-Branch at 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People History News Royal Australian Air Force

RSL meets today’s RAAF

20/06/202522/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 908 Views 0 Comments No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown, RSL

Members of the Mereweather-Hamilton-Adamstown Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub-Branch attended RAAF Base Williamtown in May to experience today’s Royal

Royal Australian Navy physical training instructors participate in the Push-Up Challenge at Fleet Base East Gymnasium in Sydney, NSW. Story by Amy Seedsman. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Military Fitness Royal Australian Navy

Pushing for an important cause

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 542 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, mental health, Push-Up Challenge

Navy personnel across the country, and even those deployed at sea, have been pushing themselves to the limit of peak

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