Royal Australian Navy – CONTACT magazine

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

Future leaders graduate from ADFA

19/12/202519/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 287 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

Ceremonial Sunset and official reception mark 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photos by Leading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Recruit School – 100 years of shaping Navy’s future

19/12/202519/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 218 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, HMAS Cerberus

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond hosted an official reception and Ceremonial Sunset on December 11 to honour 100

World War 2 veteran Valerie Ireland joins Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Chris Smith for a tour of Fleet Base East and the RAN Heritage Centre. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

Veteran’s reunion after 80 years

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 244 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre, WWII

Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Christopher Smith recently welcomed 100-year-old World War 2 veteran Valerie Ireland, née Blackett, back to Fleet

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 Iraq operation

18/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 330 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

Ship's company of HMA Ships Bathurst, Albany and Childers line the decks during the decommissioning ceremony held at HMAS Coonawarra, in the Northern Territory. Story by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Martin. Photos by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

News Royal Australian Navy

Armidale-class sails into history

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 593 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, decommissioning, HMAS Albany, HMAS Bathurst, HMAS Childers, HMAS Coonawarra

Navy has formally farewelled the three remaining Armidale-class patrol boats, HMA Ships Albany, Bathurst and Childers, in a solemn decommissioning ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin.

Members of HMAS Ballarat's ship's company prepare to scatter the ashes of four Royal Australia Navy sailors and one Royal Navy sailor during a committal of ashes to the sea ceremony off the coast of Australia. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

One final wish: Committal of ashes to the sea

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 970 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat

HMAS Ballarat has honoured the life and service of four former Royal Australian Navy members and one Royal Navy sailor by committing

HMAS Canberra crew are joined by families and guests on the flight deck for a whole ship photo off the NSW coast. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photos by Able Seaman Taylor Johnson.

News Royal Australian Navy

All aboard for Defence families

03/12/202503/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1197 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra

HMAS Canberra played host to more than 300 family members and guests for a rare weekend at sea, off the coast of

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

HIMARS proves to be shipshape

02/12/202502/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 876 Views 0 Comments 54th Siege Battery, Fleet Base East, HIMARS, HMAS Canberra

It’s not the normal place you would expect to find Army’s high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS), but it turns

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 739 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

HMA Ships Bathurst, Albany and Childers sail into Darwin Harbour for the final time. Story by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Martin. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez Jr.

News Royal Australian Navy

The last run of the Armidales

02/12/202502/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 871 Views 1 Comment Armidale-class patrol boat, HMAS Albany, HMAS Bathurst, HMAS Childers, HMAS Coonawarra

Sailing into Darwin Harbour on a sunny day with smooth seas, the last of the Armidale-class patrol boats – HMA

An Edge 130 drone lifts off from HMAS Cape Pillar’s forecastle.

News Royal Australian Navy

Cutting-edge drone tech expands patrol boat reach

02/12/202502/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 824 Views 0 Comments

The Royal Australian Navy has marked a significant milestone in maritime innovation with the successful first-of-class trials of the Edge

Plastic fabricators from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard instruct Royal Australian Navy personnel at HMAS Stirling’s Fleet Support Unit in WA. Story by Lieutenant Mark Tesoriero. Photo by Leading Seaman Shaun Chatfield.

AUKUS News Royal Australian Navy

Technicians build trust during submarine upkeep

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 898 Views 0 Comments AUKUS, Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling, Nuclear Powered Submarines

A group of Royal Australian Navy technicians are putting their training into practice, supporting maintenance on the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine

Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Rear Admiral Chris Smith and Commander Ben Weller present the Duke of Gloucester Cup to the crew of HMAS Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Nathan Smith and Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photo by Paul Berry.

News Royal Australian Navy

Sydney claims Duke of Gloucester Cup

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 581 Views 0 Comments Duke of Gloucester Cup, Governor-General of Australia, HMAS Sydney

Amid a sea of white uniforms and naval pride, Governor-General Sam Mostyn presented the prestigious Duke of Gloucester Cup to

Able Seaman Jack, left, and Able Seaman Thomas Phillips conduct electrical testing on a torpedo tube on board the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont at HMAS Stirling in WA. Story by Lieutenant Mark Tesoriero. Photos by Leading Seaman Shaun Chatfield.

ADF People News Royal Australian Navy

Aussie torpedoman takes on US attack subs

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1004 Views 0 Comments Collins-class submarines, HMAS Stirling, Nuclear Powered Submarines

Like many young recruits, Able Seaman Jack joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) because he wanted to see the world.

From left, the Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Hyuga, the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Ballarat and the United States Navy’s USS Fitzgerald sail in company off the coast of Guam during Exercise Malabar. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photo by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Exercise Malabar strengthens maritime partnerships

26/11/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 774 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, Guam, HMAS Ballarat, P-8A Poseidon

Australia joined India, Japan and the United States for Exercise Malabar, a key Indo-Pacific maritime activity designed to deepen interoperability

Royal Australian Navy officer Commander Roy Casson, centre, and the team at the Thales Defence Mission Systems facility in Brest, France. Story by Midshipman Thomas Norman.

Europe News Royal Australian Navy

Hunter hits milestone on sonar suite

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 846 Views 0 Comments Hunter-class frigate, Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, Thales

Another major milestone has been achieved for NuShip Hunter with the successful factory acceptance test (FAT) of the towed body handling system

Frozen blood products can support ADF health clinicians to deliver trauma care in challenging and harsh environments. Story by Michelle Hoare. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Frozen blood a lifesaver on the battlefield

19/11/202519/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 786 Views 0 Comments Joint Health Command

If a soldier is injured on the battlefield and urgently needs blood, fast access to blood products could mean the

Director-General of Security Mike Burgess.

ADF Australian Army Cyber News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Defending Australians against espionage

18/11/202518/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 782 Views 0 Comments

The ADF remains a prime target for foreign intelligence services, according to Australia’s security service. CAPTION: Director-General of Security Mike

Author and former broadcaster Mike Carlton speaks to the audience at Indo Pacific 2025. Photos by Able Seaman Taylor Johnson.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Mike Carlton honoured at Indo Pacific 2025

14/11/202514/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 624 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Indo Pacific

An author, historian and journalist known for his stories of the people behind some of Navy’s most notable missions has

1 Space Surveillance Unit’s Commercial Data Mission Centre delivers its first international Joint Commercial Operations-200 training course. Story by Major John Yialeloglou.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Space Division

ADF delivers first international space course

12/11/202512/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 693 Views 0 Comments Joint Commercial Operations (JCO-AUS), No.1 Space Surveillance Unit (1SSU)

1 Space Surveillance Unit’s Commercial Data Mission Centre has delivered its first international Joint Commercial Operations-200 (JCO-200) course. CAPTION: 1

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