Royal Australian Air Force – CONTACT magazine

Alfie the Elf goes on patrol with military working dog Wilka from 22 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Grace Hanlon.

Alfie the Elf’s Christmas at RAAF Base Richmond

19/12/202519/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 209 Views 1 Comment Christmas, RAAF Richmond

Far away in the North Pole, Alfie the Elf was busy working in Santa’s workshop when he received some very

Royal Australian Air Force F-35A conducts a flypast at the 2025 ADFA Graduation Parade. Story by Hannah Donald.Photo by Thomas Lucraft.

ADF Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Future leaders graduate from ADFA

19/12/202519/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 211 Views 0 Comments ADFA, Governor-General of Australia

Marking the completion of three years of university study and joint military training, 330 third-year Trainee Officers took to the

Operation Linesmen and Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense personnel salute remains recovered from White Horse Hill in the Korean DMZ. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath.

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

ADF aids remains recovery in Korean DMZ

19/12/202519/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 227 Views 0 Comments Korean War, Operation Linesmen

Seventy-five years after the Korean War started, the Australian Defence Force has supported a successful remains recovery mission on a

Clive Wawn Junior holding the ‘short snorter’ with Squadron Leader Andrew Chadwick at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre. Story and photos by Flying Officer Casie Scott.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

A ‘short snorter’ with a powerful story

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 231 Views 0 Comments RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC), WWII

An extraordinary piece of wartime history is now on display at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre: a 10-shilling ‘short

General Qais Khalaf Rahima (Staff), Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Iraqi Armed Forces in Baghdad, and Australia's Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Major General Hugh McAslan, at the cessation of Operation Steadfast. Story by Captain Karam Louli. Photos by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

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

ADF wraps up Operation Steadfast

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 296 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Operation Steadfast

Australia has officially concluded Operation Steadfast, marking the final chapter in more than two decades of Australian Defence Force involvement

Three Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft, the largest contingent to date, on the apron at Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth during Operation Gateway. Story by Flight Lieutenant Brent Moloney. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Three of a kind in Malaysia

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 313 Views 0 Comments No. 292 Squadron, No. 92 Wing, Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth, Royal Malaysian Armed Forces

Operation Gateway’s latest rotation in November and December 2025 witnessed a trio of RAAF P-8A Poseidons operating from Royal Malaysian

n MQ-28A Ghost Bat is loaded with a NAIM-120 inert air-to-air missile variant at the ordnance loading area during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia. Story by Squadron Leader Chris Moon. Photos by Aircraftman Ivan Smotrov.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Ghost Bat hits target in live fire

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 859 Views 0 Comments MQ-28A Ghost Bat, RAAF Woomera

The Australian designed and manufactured MQ-28A Ghost Bat achieved another major milestone, becoming one of the first collaborative combat aircraft

Royal Australian Air Force officers Air Commodore Adam Spinks, left, and Air Commodore Bill Hayden unveil the Australian Armourers Association plaque at the RAAF Memorial Grove, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Memorial enshrines Air Force ‘gunnies’

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 511 Views 0 Comments

More than a century after Australian aircrew first dropped bombs over the Middle East, a memorial has been dedicated to

Medical officer Flight Lieutenant Alannah Frazzetto, of 1 Expeditionary Health Services, Royal Australian Air Force, serves on Operation Gateway at RMAF Butterworth, Malaysia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Brent Moloney. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Teams behind the scenes on Op Gateway

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 438 Views 0 Comments Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircrew flew long sorties over the North Indian Ocean or the South China Sea

Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force personnel with the new Kenworth prime mover truck at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

New vehicles to keep Army on the move

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1078 Views 1 Comment RAAF Amberley

Updated collision mitigation, braking technology, digitised fleet management and driver assist systems are some of the features of the new

Pilots from four nations – the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, second from right, and United States Air Force sit in the cockpit of a CC-177 Globemaster (701) during a flight to Canadian Forces Station Alert. Story by Taster Murdoch. Photos by Corporal Gwyneth Lovell, Canadian Armed Forces.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Operation Boxtop on top of the world

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 618 Views 0 Comments Canadian Armed Forces, No. 36 Squadron, Operation Boxtop, US Air Force

Members from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 36 Squadron joined international forces for Operation Boxtop to resupply bases in the

An Australian designed and built MQ-28A Ghost Bat fires an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia. RAAF image.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology Sovereign industry

MQ-28A Ghost Bat wins big after live fire

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 900 Views 0 Comments

The Australian government will invest approximately $1.4 billion to transition the MQ-28A Ghost Bat into a fully operational war-fighting asset

Australian and Philippine Air Force members and representatives of Wheelchairs for Kids and the Angeles City Returned Services League, with two of the wheelchairs delivered to Clark Air Base, Philippines.

Asia Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Wheelchairs fly so children can thrive

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 666 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, C-130J Hercules, RAAF Richmond, RSL

On November 18, some important and precious Christmas gifts sat on board a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules. CAPTION:

Pathfinder Association representative Jeff McClenaughan awards 35 Squadron the Squadron of the Year trophy during the 2025 Pathfinders Awards at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

Archives Royal Australian Air Force

Air Mobility Group honours high flyers

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 402 Views 0 Comments Air Mobility Group (AMG), RAAF Richmond

The annual Air Mobility Group Pathfinder Awards held at RAAF Base Richmond have honoured the group’s highest performers and innovators.

Flight Lieutenants Alyssa Vickridge and Sophie Lanson, Wing Commander Lauren Guest, Flight Lieutenants Harriette Parker and Sharlene Huiskes, with Flying Officer Bun Tang, after the cyclone. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF Base Darwin stands firm against Fina

03/12/202503/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 711 Views 0 Comments cyclone, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

Not since Cyclone Tracy in 1974 has a weather event as severe as Tropical Cyclone Fina impacted the Darwin coastline

A relative of Flight Lieutenant Ross Frayne – a World War 2 and Korean War veteran who died in a crash at RAAF Base Mallala in 1955 – places a poppy on a commemorative wreath at the new Air Force memorial at the South Australian Aviation Museum. Story by Group Captain Greg Weller.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Air Force commemorates peacetime sacrifice

03/12/202503/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 854 Views 1 Comment Aircraft Research and Development Unit, RAAF Edinburgh, South Australian Aviation Museum

Attendees gathered at the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM) to witness the Dedication and Inaugural Commemorative Service of a new

Medical personnel from the ADF, British Armed Forces and New Zealand Defence Force outside the refurbished medical facility at Camp Baird, United Arab Emirates. Story by Captain Karam Louli. Photos by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

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

Modernised medical centre reopens at Camp Baird

02/12/202502/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 734 Views 0 Comments Camp Baird, Middle East

Headquarters Middle East (HQME) has reopened a state-of-the-art medical facility at Camp Baird, Al Minhad Air Base (AMAB), the United

An F-35A Lightning II from 77 Squadron takes off from RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland, during Exercise Black Dagger 25-2. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Sebastian. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

JTAC trainees take aim

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 703 Views 0 Comments 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Exercise Black Dagger, F-35A Lightning II, JTAC, No. 4 Squadron, No. 77 Squadron, PC-21, RAAF Townsville

Australia’s close air support capability was put to the test during Exercise Black Dagger 2025-2, which brought together air and

Personnel from 1 Security Forces Squadron engage in a Simulated Environment Training System training mission at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Squadron Leader Bettina Mears. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Jacob Lloyd.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Reality bytes in simulation trial

26/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 679 Views 0 Comments No. 1 Security Forces Squadron., RAAF Base Williamtown

A high-fidelity training system is being trialled to support Royal Australian Air Force’s security force squadrons. CAPTION: Personnel from 1

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell presents 101-year-old Air Force veteran Charles Reif with an Aussie Hero Quilt. Story by Elise Monge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Rodney Welch.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

A lifetime of dedication to country and service

25/11/202525/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 682 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, Chief of Air Force

When Charles Reif enlisted in the Air Force in 1946 at 22 years old as an aircraftman electrical mechanic, he

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