Pacific Archives - CONTACT magazine

Soldiers from the New Caledonian Armed Forces run in an endurance event, with an Australian Army officer as their observer, during Exercise Hydra 2019 at Greenbank Training Area, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gunner Sagi Biderman.

Exercise Hydra tests multiple military heads

12/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 291 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers from eight nations are engaging in a military skills competition in Brisbane testing the teamwork, physical stamina and mental rigour

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan investigate a fishing vessel spotted during an Operation Solania maritime patrol. RAAF photo.

Australian News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Spartan and King Air patrol Pacific

11/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 218 Views 1 Comment

By Eamon Hamilton The combination of Spartan and King Air aircraft proved a winning pair for the Air Force in

Commander Sebastian Marru of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Maritime Element, and the Commanding Officer HMAS Choules Commander Scott Houlihan at Tarangau Naval base, Manus Island. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

Minister visits PNG and Solomon Islands

23/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 264 Views 0 Comments

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds has departed on a seven-day Pacific visit, from 22 to 28 August, to further enhance

Australian Army carpenter Sapper David Mikic from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment fixes purlins to steel frames at Metinaro Military Base, Timor-Leste, during Exercise Hari'i Hamutuk 2016. Photo by Corporal Nunu Campos.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific

Sappers in Timor for sixth Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk

23/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 355 Views 0 Comments

Australian Army engineers have arrived in Timor-Leste for the sixth iteration of Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk. FILE PHOTO (2016): Australian Army carpenter

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion has found the last crew member overboard from the Chinese fishing vessel Jin Xiang 6, which had been damaged by fire. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

Kiwi Orion rescues man overboard

17/08/201923/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 367 Views 0 Comments

New Zealand’s P-3K2 Orion that located the burnt Chinese fishing vessel yesterday was re-tasked this morning with finding a man

Samoan Police crew of Nafanua II fall in alongside their newly aquired Guardian-class patrol boat at Austal ship yards in Henderson, Western Australia. Photo by Leading Seaman Richard Cordell.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Technology

Samoa receives latest Guardian-class patrol boat

16/08/201917/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 695 Views 0 Comments

The fourth Guardian-class patrol boat built under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (SEA3036) Project was formally handed over to the

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion photographs the Chinese fishing vessel Jin Xiang 6, damaged by fire west of Tuvalu. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

Kiwi Orion helps damaged Chinese fishing boat

16/08/201923/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 320 Views 0 Comments

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion on a fisheries patrol about 400 nautical miles west of Tuvalu has

Australian Army soldier Sergeant Chris Renew from 19th Chief Engineer Works looks over plans with local contractor Vuksich and Borich Project Manager, Suvinay Basawaiya at Blackrock Camp in Nadi, Fiji. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie engineers building Fiji army camp

13/08/201913/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 562 Views 0 Comments

Australian Defence Force engineers are working with the Royal Fijian Military Forces (RFMF) and local Fijian construction companies to build

No. 38 Squadron KA350 King Air. Photo by Corporal Glenn McCarthy.

Australian News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

King Air, Spartan on Pacific fisheries patrol

13/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 588 Views 0 Comments

Australia is continuing its contribution in the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in the Southwest Pacific, with the

HMAS Sirius at anchor off the coast of Samoa. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Sirius gets confusing head start on six-month Pacific mission

05/07/201912/07/2019 Brian Hartigan 1478 Views 0 Comments

A Defence press release issued today says Joint Task Force 637 and Her Majesty’s Australian Ship Sirius will arrive in Fiji

The first Austal-built Guardian-class patrol boat on builder's sea trials. Austal photo.

Australian News Pacific

Tonga gifted Guardian-class patrol boat – third in class

21/06/201916/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 1382 Views 0 Comments

A new Guardian-class patrol boat built by Austal in WA was today gifted to the Kingdom of Tonga. FILE PHOTO:

Japanese and Australian soldiers fire artillery in Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Australian Australian Army News Pacific Videos

Japan fires artillery on Australian soil

01/06/2019 Brian Hartigan 1451 Views 0 Comments

Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) personnel have successfully fired two FH-70 howitzers out to 25 kilometres while in Australia.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres views islands of Tuvalu from the ramp of a No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan. Story and photo by Eamon Hamilton.

Australian News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

UN Secretary-General gets Spartan tour of Pacific isles

31/05/2019 Brian Hartigan 604 Views 0 Comments

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other dignitaries, toured the South-West Pacific with the assistance of the Royal Australian

A sailor on HMAS Gascoyne throws a line to a Funafuti wharf worker as the ship pulls alongside in Tuvalu during a south-west-Pacific-engagement tour. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Gascoyne farewells south-Pacific hosts after month of hospitality

07/05/2019 Brian Hartigan 436 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Gascoyne has farewelled Tonga and Tuvalu following a month-long deployment to the Southwest Pacific region. CAPTION: A sailor on

Members of the Tuvalu Police Force salute the rising of their national flag for the first time on their new Guardian-class patrol boat, gifted by Australia. Photo by Petty Officer James Whittle.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

New patrol boat gifted to Tuvalu

06/04/2019 Brian Hartigan 1526 Views 0 Comments

Australia today gifted a new Guardian-class patrol boat – the Te Mataili II – to the government of Tuvalu, in Western

Republic of Fiji soldiers conduct Bushmaster driver training on a log-crossing obstacle, under the guidance of Australian Army driver training instructors, at Greenbank Training Area. Photo by Corporal Nicci Freeman.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific

Fiji Bushmaster drivers’ course

03/04/201915/04/2019 Brian Hartigan 572 Views 0 Comments

Brisbane-based Australian Army soldiers are training troops from the Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF) on how to use Bushmaster

HMAS Choules sails into Port Villa, Vanuatu, during her 2019 month-long Pacific Engagement deployment. Photo by WO2 Mick Davis.

ADF Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Choules home after month in the Pacific

23/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 841 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Defence Force’s first enhanced regional engagement activity in the Pacific for 2019 has concluded with the return of

Manus Island Regional Processing Centre (MIRPC) staff board an Australian landing craft Lombrum Naval Base, Manus Island. Photo by Sergeant W Guthrie.

Australian News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Aust/PNG MoU on Manus Island navy-base extension

21/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 1260 Views 1 Comment

Australia and Papua New Guinea reached another milestone in the bilateral relationship with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

An MRH-90 helicopter from HMAS Choules' demonstrates handling and winching drills during a visit to Vanuatu. Choules will also visit Solomon Islands during her SW-Pacific Regional Engagement deployment. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

ADF Australian New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

ADF support to Solomon Islands first election since RAMSI

19/03/201919/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 732 Views 0 Comments

At the request of the Solomon Islands government, the Australian Defence Force is contributing to Australia’s support to the Solomon

A RNZAF no.3 SQN NH90 helicopter is loaded into a RAAF C-17 Globemaster III, on its way to the Solomon Islands for the first post RAMSI general election on the archipelago. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF (+ADF) assist Solomon Island in first post-RAMSI election

15/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 795 Views 0 Comments

New Zealand’s Minister of Defence Ron Mark announced earlier this week that the NZDF would deploy 55 personnel and two

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