Australian – Page 2 – CONTACT magazine

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

Cutting-edge drone tech expands patrol boat reach

02/12/202502/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 732 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

Australian and Philippine soldiers operate Zodiac inflatable boats as part of small boats and coastal defence training during Exercise Kasangga. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Small boats, big connections

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 619 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Exercise Kasangga, Philippines

Three Zodiac boats full of Australian and Filipino soldiers landed on a rocky outcrop down the coast from a fortified

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 849 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

International partners train with Samoan Emergency Services and Police during Exercise Pacific Partnership in Samoa. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Dana Millington.

Australian Army News Pacific

The best prepare for the worst

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 625 Views 0 Comments Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division, Samoa

Regional cooperation and disaster-response capability received a boost during the latest iteration of Exercise Pacific Partnership, held in Samoa. CAPTION:

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 637 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

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 537 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 792 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.

Australian Army Craftsman Marcus Szewczuk, of the 5th Aviation Regiment, stands before an Australian Army CH-47F Chinook in PNG. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Corporal Dana Millington.

ADF People Australian Army

Helicopter maintenance a family affair

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 515 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, Exercise Helicon Luk, PNG

Sat in a distant corner of a hangar at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby, Craftsman Marcus Szewczuk, of

Australian Army Sapper Nicholas Carmont cooks food during a jungle survival course in the Philippines on Exercise Kasangga. Story by Warrant officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photos by Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Asia Australian Army News

Learning tricks of the tracking trade

26/11/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 534 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga

Corporal Rory Murray thought he might’ve been OK at combat tracking as he followed bent leaves and footprints that turned

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 635 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

A TV crew films Australian soldiers as they conduct clearance operations as part of Exercise Arras Walk. Photo by Captain Mark Blackman.

Australian Army News

Urban exercise prepares soldiers for modern ops

26/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 580 Views 0 Comments 4th Brigade, 8th/7th Royal Victorian Regiment, Army Reserve, casevac, Exercise Arras Walk, Puckapunyal

Victorian and Tasmanian soldiers took to the streets of Bendigo in full combat ensemble as part of a 10-day training

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 712 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

Philippine Army soldiers fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Kasangga. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Trading combat knowledge in the Philippines

26/11/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 475 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P)

From beautiful beaches to dense, mountain jungle, a combat team of Australian soldiers traded knowledge with Philippine counterparts on the

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 630 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

MQ-4C Triton pilot Flight Lieutenant Ariel White with 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Tindal. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

From dreams to duty

25/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 739 Views 0 Comments MQ-4C Triton, No. 9 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, RAAF Tindal

For Flight Lieutenant Ariel White, a typical day as an air vehicle pilot at 9 Squadron means helping shape the

Three Royal Australian Air Force MQ-4C Triton aircraft on the taxiway at RAAF Base Tindal, NT. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

9 Squadron’s all-seeing unseen new role

25/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1016 Views 1 Comment MQ-4C Triton, No. 9 Squadron, Northrop Grumman Australia, RAAF Edinburgh, RAAF Tindal, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

In June 2023, 9 Squadron was reformed at RAAF Base Edinburgh (with a detachment at RAAF Base Tindal) to operate

Director General Integrated Soldier System Branch, Brigadier Pat Murray, and NIOA’s General Manager - Weapons and Munitions, Mick Ahern, ink the new small arms support contract. Photo supplied by NIOA.

ADF News Sovereign industry

NIOA, Defence sign long-term small arms support contract

25/11/202525/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 640 Views 0 Comments

NIOA has signed a new long-term small arms support contract with the Australian Department of Defence. CAPTION: Director General Integrated

Commanding Officer 100 Squadron Wing Commander Richard Brougham presents a 100 Squadron challenge coin to James Birt. Story and photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Connecting then and now

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 981 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, WWII

It’s been more than 80 years since James Birt was defending our nation in World War 2, yet he can

The Colour Party presents the 9 Squadron Standard as a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter conducts a flyover at the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide to mark the squadron’s reformation. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photo by Flight Sergeant Rob Hack.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

9 Squadron flies again

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4721 Views 4 Comments MQ-4C Triton, No. 9 Squadron

9 Squadron has officially reformed, marking its proud return to Air Force service with a ceremony at Torrens Parade Ground,

ADF News

Changes to top secret security clearances

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1045 Views 0 Comments

Top Secret-Privileged Access security clearance has replaced Positive Vetting as Australia’s highest-level security clearance. CAPTION: The changes to top secret