Overseas – Page 2 – CONTACT magazine

Flight Lieutenant Rhett Allen, left, Corporal Jonathan Zinger and Flight Lieutenant Georgia Crean while deployed to Poland as part of the E-7A Wedgetail contingent. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander John A Thompson.

NATO praises nation’s support for Ukraine

23/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 977 Views 1 Comment E-7A Wedgetail, NATO, NATO’s Support and Assistance to Ukraine (NSATU), Poland, Ukraine

As the Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail aircraft prepared to leave Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) praised

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant Belinda Gabrielsen deployed on Operation Kudu in Poland. Photo by Leading Seeaman Kylie Jagiello.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Support staff keep Wedgetail supporting Ukraine

21/10/202525/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1504 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Operation Kudu

As the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft takes flight on another mission over Eastern Europe, the men and women who worked tirelessly

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail conducts a flyover in support of Polish Armed Forces Day celebrations during deployment to Operation Kudu in Poland. Story by Captain Karam Louli.

Europe News Royal Australian Air Force

Wedgetail watches NATO’s eastern flank

17/10/202517/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1415 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, NATO, No. 2 Squadron, Operation Kudu, Poland

ADF aviators silently watched Europe’s eastern flank to assist with peace and stability in the region under Operation Kudu, Australia’s

Australian Army soldier Corporal Angus Pugney, of the 4th Health Battalion, conducts patient extraction winch training as part of Exercise Helicon Luk 2025 in PNG. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Corporal Dana Millington.

Australian Army News Overseas

Army’s first responders practise their craft

17/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1422 Views 0 Comments 4th Health Battalion, 5th Aviation Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, Exercise Helicon Luk, PNG, PNGDF

When the ADF is called upon to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, it’s often Army’s workhorse helicopter, the CH-47F

An Australian Army CH-47F Chinook from 5th Aviation Regiment navigates the rugged terrain of Papua New Guinea’s Central Highlands during altitude training. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Corporal Dana Millington.

Australian Army News Overseas

Army aircrews on a high during training in PNG

14/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1357 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, Exercise Helicon Luk, Exercise Wantok Warrior, PNG, PNGDF

In late September, Townsville-based 5th Aviation Regiment flew four of its CH-47F Chinooks to Papua New Guinea to take part

Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson while deployed on Operation Paladin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan White.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Middle East News

Bravery on the battlefield and beyond

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 962 Views 0 Comments improvised explosive device (IED), Operation Paladin, United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)

“Lima, this is Victor … CAPTION: Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson while deployed on Operation Paladin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan

Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the United States Air Force aircraft fly in formation during Exercise Bushido Guardian near Misawa Air Base, Japan. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force

Bushido Guardian builds trilateral strength

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 907 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bushido Guardian, F-35A Lightning II, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 3 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 has proved to be a huge trilateral success, as Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Alastair Wuth patrols through the jungle during Exercise Bersama Lima 2025 in Kuantan, Malaysia. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia Australian Army News Videos

Jungle assault on Bersama Lima

10/10/202512/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1231 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Bersama Lima, Malaysia

The sharp sound of simulated gunfire and mortars echoed through the jungle as coloured smoke billowed across the canopy. CAPTION:

Australian Army image specialist Corporal Andrew Shaw captures naval manoeuvres during Exercise Bersama Lima 2025, off the coast of Malaysia. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Air Specialist Class 1 Christian Sparks RAF.

Asia Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Regional partners mark firsts on Ex Bersama Lima

08/10/202508/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 953 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bersama Lima, Five Power Defence Arrangements, HADR, Malaysia

This year’s Exercise Bersama Lima marked a series of firsts and a strong emphasis on future-ready capabilities of the Five

Royal Australian Air Force aviators help load cargo to a C-17A Globemaster at Ho Chi Minh City International Airport before deploying Vietnamese UN peacekeepers to South Sudan. Story and photos by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Asia Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Aussies proud of peacekeeping role

08/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 932 Views 0 Comments UN Peacekeeping, UNMISS, Vietnam

Every pallet loaded and every list checked gave Private Naomi Manton and Leading Aircraftman Blair Andrews pride in supporting the

Timor-Leste Defence Force soldiers take part in communications and combat first aid training with Australian Army soldiers from 1st Health Battalion and 1st Combat Signals Regiment in Baucau, Timor-Leste, during Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk. Story and photos by Captain Nicholas Marquis.

Australian Army News Overseas

Building bonds in Timor-Leste

08/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1400 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, 1st Combat Engineer Regimen, 1st Combat Signal Regiment, 1st Health Battalion, Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk, Timor-Leste

More than 250 Australian soldiers worked with personnel from New Zealand, the United States and Japan during a series of Defence

Ahead of Exercise Bushido Guardian, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Forces and United States Air Force fast jets conduct a trilateral activity. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force

Bushido Guardian launches fast jets in Japan

03/10/202503/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1455 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bushido Guardian, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 3 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 has launched, with F-35A Lightning II jets from 3 Squadron, supported by a 33 Squadron KC-30A

Asia Australian Army News

Sappers welcomed to the jungle

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1047 Views 0 Comments Malaysia, Malaysian Armed Forces

Amidst the dense Kuantan jungle, military personnel from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom were greeted by a striking

Australian Army officers from 2nd Health Brigade assist United States Army personnel in loading a Japanese Middle Army patient onto a CT machine at the Role 3 field hospital on Exercise Orient Shield 2025 at the Sekiyama Training Area, Japan. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Japan News

Army medics hone trilateral skills

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 939 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Brigade, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Orient Shield, Japan, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

From trauma care to casualty evacuation, army medical specialists from Australia, Japan and the United States trained side by side

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Orient Shield at the Sekiyama Training Area, Japan. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Japan News Videos

Trilateral mortars on target

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1713 Views 0 Comments 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Exercise Orient Shield, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

In a landmark first, Australian Army soldiers joined their Japanese and United States counterparts in a combined mortar live-fire on

Bomana War Cemetery, located near Port Moresby, is the final resting place of more than 3300 Australians. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

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

Bomana visit a moving moment for ADF members

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3739 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Operation Wantaim, PNG, WWII

Two ADF members paid a special visit to their relatives’ graves at the Bomana War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea

Australian Army Chaplain Cesar Lopez gifts a priest with some Holy Bibles at a Local Parish Church at Comoro in Dili, Timor, during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2025. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

ADF Asia News

Faith the language of hope in Timor-Leste

25/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2986 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Timor-Leste, Timor-Leste Defence Force

Timor-Leste is a nation born through the flames of conflict, sacrifice and adversity. CAPTION: Australian Army Chaplain Cesar Lopez gifts

ersonnel from the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Brunei Armed Forces during a visit to Brunei Darussalam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Deanna Ellick./ Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Australian F-35As visit Brunei

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3280 Views 0 Comments Brunei, F-35A Lightning II, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBLF)

In a demonstration of growing Defence cooperation, two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft landed in Brunei Darussalam

A RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight line at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, during Exercise Thai Boomerang. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

That’s a wrap for Thai Boomerang 2025

24/09/202524/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3685 Views 0 Comments Exercise Thai Boomerang, No. 1 Squadron, No. 4 Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force, Thailand

Exercise Thai Boomerang 2025 has come to an end with a closing ceremony at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base

HMAS Ballarat's boarding party approaches Royal Brunei Navy ship KDB Darulaman during a maritime exercise off the coast of Brunei Darussalam during Exercise Penguin. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Australia and Brunei strengthen defence ties

23/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3756 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Exercise Penguin, HMAS Ballarat, Royal Brunei Navy

For the first time since 2018, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy have completed Exercise Penguin, a