Australian – Page 3 – CONTACT magazine

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.

From dreams to duty

25/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 782 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 1073 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 673 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 1050 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 4834 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 1144 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

Air Mobility Training and Development Unit personnel gather for a group photo at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Sixty years of developing and delivering

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 636 Views 0 Comments Air Mobility Training and Development Unit (AMTDU), RAAF Richmond

Current and past members of Air Mobility Training and Development Unit (AMTDU) came together at RAAF Base Richmond recently to

Surgeon General of the ADF and patron of the Australasian Military Medicine Association, Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett, addresses the conference. Story by Michelle Hoare.

ADF Health and Wellbeing News

Meeting of minds on military medicine

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 614 Views 1 Comment Australasian Military Medicine Association (AMMA)

The biggest ever Australasian Military Medicine Association (AMMA) Conference, held in Adelaide, drew more than 900 military health professionals to

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 831 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 771 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 764 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

Aviators from RAAF Base Pearce take part in the inaugural Goggins’ Challenge, raising $7400 for mental health. Story by Flying Officer Stina Frantzich Gardiner. Photo by Sergeant Joshua Mulligan.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Aviators raise $7400 for mental health

18/11/202518/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 677 Views 0 Comments 2 Flying Training School, mental health, No 79 Squadron, No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, No. 25 Squadron

RAAF Base Pearce personnel have gone the distance for mental health, raising $7400 in 48 hours for the Black Dog

Sandy Sandford, a former Regimental Sergeant Major of Trentham Military Camp in New Zealand, sells poppies in Melbourne ahead of Remembrance Day. Story by Major Carla Armenti. Photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

Australian Army History News

Royal visit evokes fond memory for veteran

18/11/202518/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 519 Views 0 Comments Remembrance Day

As the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASIGS) celebrates its centenary with parades and activities across the country to commemorate

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Joint training boosts air crash response

18/11/202518/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 591 Views 0 Comments Air Force Test Ranges Squadron (AFTRSQN), No. 34 Squadron, RAAF Woomera

Air Force Test Ranges Squadron (AFTRSQN) and 34 Squadron have completed a joint emergency response exercise at RAAF Base Woomera

A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16C takes off at RAAF Base Pearce. Story and photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Singapore amps up fast jets in WA

18/11/202518/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 769 Views 1 Comment Extended Fighter Detachment (EFD), RAAF Pearce, Republic of Singapore Air Force

Four Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C jets shared the skies over RAAF Base Pearce during their recent Extended

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF salutes supporters

14/11/202516/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 660 Views 0 Comments RAAF Williamtown

RAAF Base Williamtown, 77 Squadron and 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) have hosted a family day in recognition of the

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 609 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

Air Force Chaplain Wing Commander Wayne Ross uses the new RAAF Welfare Trust Fund website at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Wing Commander Michael Rowe. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson

News Royal Australian Air Force

Fast financial support for aviators

14/11/202514/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 505 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, RAAF Welfare Trust Fund (RWTF)

For Air Force, 1989 was a busy year. Transport squadrons were stretched, flying more than 6500 hours to move over

An F60 Bangalore torpedo explodes at a demolitions range at the School of Military Engineering, Holsworthy, NSW. Story and photos by Major Dan Mazurek.

Australian Army News

Bangs galore out of the box

12/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 904 Views 0 Comments F60 Bangalore torpedo, Holsworthy Barracks, School of Military Engineering

Sappers on their Subject 4 Corporal’s Course at the School of Military Engineering, Holsworthy Barracks, are among the first in

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 681 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