Overseas – CONTACT magazine

Australian M1A1 Abrams tanks bound for Ukraine are unloaded in Europe after arriving from Australia on a cargo ship. Photo by Lance Corporal JA Thompson.

Australia completes delivery of tanks to Ukraine

19/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 706 Views 0 Comments M1A1 Abrams, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed its landmark commitment to provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks, reinforcing the

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.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Alfie the Elf’s Christmas at RAAF Base Richmond

19/12/202519/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 463 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

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 KIA recovery from Korean DMZ

19/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 583 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

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 450 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 612 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

Crewmembers of HMNZS Aotearoa disembarked to a warm welcome home after an 8-month deployment. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News

HMNZS Aotearoa home after 8-month deployment

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 871 Views 0 Comments

Friends, family, haka, senior defence leaders and the Royal New Zealand Navy band were all on hand at Devonport Naval

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 549 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

New Zealand soldiers supervise Ukrainian soldiers during an urban-operations training session. NZDF photo.

Europe New Zealand News

New Zealand Defence Force teams provide specialist training to Ukraine forces

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 660 Views 0 Comments

Specialist teams of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel continue to train Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) personnel in the

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 754 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

Australian and Philippine Army mortarmen fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Kasangga. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Philippines engagement taken to new level

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 590 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), Philippines

The Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines completed their largest dedicated program of training and expertise exchange

Ngāti Tūmatauenga, the New Zealand Army formally stands up its newly-formed Motorised Infantry Battalion at Linton Military Camp on Friday 5 December, 2025. RNZDF photo.

New Zealand News

NZ Army creates new motorised infantry battalion

07/12/202507/12/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1040 Views 1 Comment

A newly-formed unit of the New Zealand Army, Ngāti Tūmatauenga, was formally called to attention this week. CAPTION: Ngāti Tūmatauenga,

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 704 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:

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 772 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

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.

Asia Australian Army News

Small boats, big connections

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 705 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

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 714 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:

RNZAF Combat Operations Support Squadron support Exercise Tuhono Rangi at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, an exercise in support of visiting Luftwaffe A400M. NZDF image supplied.

Europe New Zealand News

Luftwaffe exercise delivers benefits for New Zealand

27/11/202527/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 701 Views 0 Comments

Exercise Tūhono Rangi, a landmark joint training operation with the German air force (Luftwaffe), has wrapped up for the New

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

Tracking skills in Philippine jungle

26/11/202522/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 608 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

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 801 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 566 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

New livery for RNZAF on its new Airbus A321XLR. Images supplied by RNZAF.

New Zealand News

New livery on new transport for RNZAF

22/11/202522/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 937 Views 0 Comments

A six-year lease-to-buy deal to acquire replacement strategic transport aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has been

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