News Archives - CONTACT magazine

Squadron Leader Chris Myles, left, the Australian Participant Maintenance Lead at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, and pilot Flight Lieutenant Adrian Herenda, with the F-35A A35-001 after the aircraft reached 1000 flying hours. Story by Alisha Welch.

First Aussie F-35 clocks up 1000 hours

05/06/202005/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 309 Views 0 Comments

The first Australian F-35A to roll off Lockheed Martin’s Texas production line back in 2014 has completed 1000 flying hours over the skies of Arizona.

Australian soldiers and Iraqi forward air controllers wave to the crew of an Iraqi Army helicopter as it departs at the conclusion of training at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal David Said.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Australia ends training mission at Taji Military Complex

05/06/202005/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 370 Views 0 Comments

Australia has successfully completed its training mission at Taji Military Complex in Iraq where, since 2015, they have trained more than 47,000 Iraqis.

Australian News Technology

BlueScope wins steel contract for Hunter-class prototype

05/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 644 Views 0 Comments Hunter-class

BlueScope has signed a contract to deliver 1500 tonnes of steel plate to construct five ship blocks in the prototyping phase of the Hunter-class frigates.

The submarine rescue vessel LR5 is recovered on to the work deck of MV Stoker from the basin at Fleet Base - West after a systems test run during Ex Black Carillon 2016. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Technology

Work starts to house submarine rescue system

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 311 Views 0 Comments

Work has begun on a new purpose-built facility at Henderson in Western Australia to house the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine rescue system.

A Royal Australian Navy sailor is lowered to the casing of HMAS Collins from an MRH-90 helicopter in the Bay of Bengal during AUSINDEX 2019. Photo by Leading Seaman Jake Badior.

ADF Asia Australian News Overseas

Australia-India agree Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in virtual summit

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 342 Views 0 Comments

PMs Scott Morrison and Narendra Modi ‘met’ earlier today in a virtual summit, which the Indian PM said “covered the entire expanse of our relationship”.

No. 82 Wing Training Flight is a trial to deliver aircrew operational conversion training in the Super Hornet aircraft in Australia. Photo by Corporal Colin Dadd.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force

Super Hornet training being trialled in Australia

04/06/202004/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 515 Views 0 Comments

No. 82 Wing Training Flight at RAAF Base Amberley is a trial to deliver aircrew operational conversion training in Super Hornets in Australia.

ADF Australian News

Defence hit with more COVID-19 cases

04/06/202004/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 297 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Defence has been hit with another three confirmed cases of COVID-19, after an encouraging lapse of more than a week with no new cases.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C130H Hercules prepares to deliver cyclone relief supplies to Vanuatu. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF continues to deliver Cyclone Harold relief

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 234 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

NZDF is returning citizens and continuing to deliver aid to Vanuatu this week, following widespread devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold in April.

The first plane-load of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin marines are greeted by biosecurity officers at RAAF Base Darwin. The marines were tested for COVID-19 and placed in a 14-day quarantine facility. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Natalie Greenwood.

Australian MRF-D News

First batch of Marine rotation 2020 arrives in Darwin

02/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 392 Views 0 Comments MRF-D

The first group of around 200 US Marines have arrived at RAAF Base Darwin as part of the ninth Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D).

Australian News Veterans

Veteran and Community Grants – June 2020

02/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 352 Views 0 Comments

Veterans and their families from across Australia will benefit from projects funded under the Veteran and Community Grants (V&CG) program aimed

Australian News Veterans

75-day countdown to Victory in the Pacific Day 75th anniversary

01/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 341 Views 0 Comments

Tomorrow marks the 75-day countdown to when Australia will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, with 75 days of WWIII 75 stories.

Two Australian Mirage fighters from 79 Squadron over land near Butterworth. RAAF photo.

ADF Australian CONTACT BLOG SPOT History Letters to the Editor News Personal stories Veterans

RCB denied Warlike Service appeal

01/06/202001/06/2020 Steven McCulloch 721 Views 0 Comments

Our appeal [that AASM be awarded for ‘warlike service’ with Rifle Company Butterworth from September 1974 to December 1980] was

Mates4Mates offer five-day equine therapy programs, facilitated by Equine Encounters Australia, for both individual Mates and couples who have service-related physical injuries or mental illness.

Australian News Veterans

Mental health grants veteran organisations

01/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 305 Views 0 Comments

Support for mental-health needs of younger veterans was boosted $1million in grants for eight projects to be delivered by veteran-community organisations.

New Zealand Army soldiers rappel from a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter at the Rainbow Ski Area in Nelson during Exercise Southern Katipo 2015. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

NZDF scales back major exercise

29/05/202029/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 510 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Exercise Southern Katipo 20 run regularly by the New Zealand Defence Force has been scaled back because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ADF Australian News Technology

Virtual weapons cost Defence 12 times more than real ones

29/05/202029/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 2571 Views 16 Comments

A press release from Meggitt Training Systems today has put a dollar value on ‘virtual’ EF88 weapons used on Defence’s

Military working-dog handler Corporal Brodie McIntyre with his dog Kesha provides security to an Air Force C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Darwin. Photo by Sergeant Ben Dempster.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force

Warlpiri man living the RAAF team dream

28/05/202028/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 1000 Views 0 Comments

Researching ancient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tools, materials, hunting and farming methods is a passion for RAAF Warlpiri man in the NT.

Commander Air Combat Group Air Commodore Tim Alsop and Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron Wing Commander Darren Clare show off the front of Joint Strike Fighter A35-010, temporarily rebranded in celebration of Felix Sainsbury's 100th birthday.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

Special 3 Sqn messages for 100th birthday

28/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 582 Views 0 Comments

Air Force World War II veteran Sergeant Felix Sainsbury (retired) celebrated his 100th birthday on May 14 and his old unit marked his big day.

Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean and a painting depicting his final heroic action. Courtesy Royal Australian Navy.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy

Defence rejects Tribunal recommendation that Sheean be awarded VC

27/05/202031/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 1971 Views 9 Comments Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean

Defence has issued a statement backing the government’s recent announcement that Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean not be posthumously granted a Victoria Cross.