Overseas Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian Army soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, transit to Balabac Island, Philippines, on an American Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, as part of Exercise Balikatan. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

Battle group builds confidence in combined force

14/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 978 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Exercise Balikatan, Philippine Marine Corps, US Marines

“Should we have to meet in the dark at a time not of our choosing, it won’t be the first

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant James Wilcox deployed on Operation Accordion at Al Minhad Air Base, 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People Australian Army Middle East Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

The movers and shakers of the ADF

13/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 588 Views 0 Comments logistics, Middle East Region, Operation Accordion

They don’t wear capes or fly jets but Australia’s logistics planners drive every move in the Middle East, where nothing

Australian Defence Force members march with service personnel from other Commonwealth nations during the London parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Story by Captain Edward Pym. Photos from UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

ADF commemorates VE Day in London

09/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1346 Views 0 Comments VE Day, WWII

More than 1000 service personnel, including members of the Australian Defence Force marched through London to commemorate the 80th anniversary

10 Squadron marches in a Victory in Europe Day parade on May 9, 1945, in Plymouth, United Kingdom. Story by Rosalind Turner.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

80th anniversary of Victory in Europe

08/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 632 Views 0 Comments VE Day, WWII

On Tuesday May 8, 1945, British prime minister Winston Churchill made an announcement: The war was over and the Allies

Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Curtis Bachmann deployed as part of the Field Installation Team (FIT) for Operation Accordion conducts equipment familiarisation training at Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Building connections in the Middle East

07/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 728 Views 0 Comments Middle East, Operation Accordion

With six trades from 13 units, a field installation team is wiring critical networks in the Middle East. CAPTION: Royal Australian

Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment visit he Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Monument during Exercise Coastwatchers 2025. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

Coastwatchers cast eye on security and history

07/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 816 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Coastwatchers, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

Exercise Coastwatchers, the little-known but significant training exercise between Australia and the Solomon Islands, has successfully completed rotation 11. CAPTION: Australian

ADF Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones, left, speaks with Colonel Craig Solomon of the PNG Defence Force during a visit to Murray Barracks in Port Moresby. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

International debut for Talisman Sabre

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 702 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, PNGDF

Australia’s largest military exercise will be making its international debut, with Papua New Guinea hosting elements of Exercise Talisman Sabre

Australian Army soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, prepare to engage during the counter-landing live-fire exercise at Campong Ulay as part of Exercise Balikatan in Palawan, Philippines. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Soldiers ready for real-world challenges

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 920 Views 1 Comment 5/7 RAR, Exercise Balikatan, HIMARS

Australian Army soldiers worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Philippine and United States marines to dig in at the beachfront at Rizal, preparing

Australian and New Zealand personnel form the catafalque party for the dawn service at Anzac Cove on Gallipoli Peninsula. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photo by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army Ian Cavanough Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Shared spirit that’s more than a memory

30/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 716 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli

Standing on the shore of Anzac Cove on Anzac Day, Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather, along with other Australian and New

Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force personnel combine for the Anzac Cove dawn service. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photos by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Australia and New Zealand join forces at Gallipoli

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 677 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Governor-General of Australia, Lone Pine, NZDF, Turkey

ADF and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel supported three parades in the Anzac Day 2025 commemorations at Gallipoli. CAPTION: Australian

Australian Army sappers from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment join in a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device course during the Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines program in Tarlac City, Philippines. Story by Captain Annie Richardson.

Asia Australian Army News

Sappers get a blast out of shared training

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 655 Views 0 Comments 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), 6th Engineer Support Regiment, Armed Forces of the Philippines, EOD, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), mobile training team (MTT)

Under the beating sun in Tarlac City in the Philippines, Australian explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists recently exchanged experience and

A Royal Australian Air Force P8-A Poseidon aircraft and United States Navy P-8A Poseidon’s on the flight line at United States Air Force Kadena Air Base, Japan, during Operation Argos 25-1. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Corporal Emma Schwenke.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF Poseidon on North Korean-sanctions patrol

29/04/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 803 Views 0 Comments No. 11 Squadron, Operation Argos, P-8A Poseidon, united Nations Security Council, US Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol crew deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for Operation Argos

The railway embankment which ran parallel to the Hindenburg Line south east of Bullecourt. The tank shown in the distance broke down above the shelter which housed the Headquarters of the 48th Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel R. L. Leane) during the first assault upon the Hindenburg Line (11 April 1917). The embankment was also the position of Brigadier General Gellibrand's Headquarters (6th Infantry Brigade) during the second assault (3 May 1917). AWM : E01408 COURTESY OF - Australian War Memorial

Australian Army Europe News Veterans

Four unidentified Aussie WWI soldiers found

26/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3200 Views 1 Comment Bullecourt, Unrecovered War Casualties – Army Unit

The remains of four Australian soldiers have been found in northern France, almost 108 years since they died during the

The Royal Australian Navy's Captain Jorge McKee addresses a change-of-command ceremony. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring. Photos by Spc. Christ-Claude Mowandza-Ndinga.

Middle East News Royal Australian Navy

Australia hands Red Sea command to Egypt

24/04/202526/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1284 Views 0 Comments Combined Maritime Forces, Egypt

Australia handed over command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) task force responsible for maritime security in the Red Sea

A Royal Australian Air Force No.11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon taxies after landing at Avalon Airport during the Australian International Air Show 2025. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy USA

Aussie aviation “model programs in international cooperation”

11/04/202511/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1139 Views 0 Comments Avalon Airshow, MH-60R Seahawk, P-8A Poseidon

Two programs designed to enhance the ADF air capability and increase regional security are the “model programs in international cooperation”,

Sergeant Matthew Watson and Sapper Daniel Almer from 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron prepare an unexploded ordnance for disposal during Operation Render Safe 25-B Nauru. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

ADF News Pacific

Sappers helping Nauru to be safe

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 801 Views 0 Comments Operation Render Safe

A team of ADF explosives experts worked with Government of Nauru authorities to dispose of two World War 2-era unexploded

Two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters circle HMAS Warramunga, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Toowoomba as the ships prepare for ASWEX 25. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Navy

Anzac wolf pack hunts subs off WA

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1486 Views 0 Comments Anzac-class frigates, ASWEX

Four of Australia’s seven Anzac-class frigates sailed in formation off the Western Australian coast for ASWEX 25 this month. CAPTION:

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment and members of the Philippine Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Company conduct littoral assault training with Zodiac small boats during a Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) program at Marine Base Ternate. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.

Australian Army News Pacific

Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines doubles commitment

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1796 Views 0 Comments JATT-P, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), Philippines

Military training activities between Australia and the Philippines are increasing in 2025, strengthening cooperation and broadening interoperability. CAPTION: Australian Army