News – Page 2 – CONTACT magazine

An Army M1110 joint assault bridge deploys under cover from an Abrams tank during a heavy armoured capability demonstration at the Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

New destructive breaching capability on display

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1121 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, M1110 Joint Assault Bridge, Townsville Field Training Area

A barrage of tank and Australian light armoured vehicle (ASLAV) fire shatters an enemy HQ on a hill about 1.5km

Four CA-27 Sabres from the 75 Squadron 'Black Diamonds' aerobatic team perform a display over RAAF Base Richmond during the Air Force Week airshow in September 1961. Photo from the RAAF Museum.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Airshow’s flight through Richmond’s history

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 817 Views 0 Comments RAAF Richmond

Over 100 years, RAAF Base Richmond has recorded more than 1.28 million visitors at airshows, flying displays and community events.

Air Commodore Bill Kourelakos (rtd) signs 'The Air Mobility Workhorse: C-130 Hercules Aircraft in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Service'. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Feats of Hercules recorded

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 864 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, RAAF Richmond

The flightline at RAAF Base Richmond has launched countless C-130 Hercules missions around the globe – and now it has

Members of the public excitingly enter the RAAF Richmond Air Show 2025. Photo by Aircraftman Jonathon McCaffrey.

History News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

A wrap on RAAF Richmond Airshow 2025

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1143 Views 2 Comments RAAF Richmond

About 80,000 people flocked to Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond over the weekend of September 27 and 28 to

Cadet Katelyn Wichman, left, and Cadet Oscar Brown, right, stand either side of former Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules loadmasters Bob Pearman, Herman ‘Dave’ Jones, Cole Coyne, Stue Hablethwaite and his service dog at the RAAF Richmond Airshow. Story by Flight Sergeant Mark Eaton.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

A century of service, a lifetime of memories

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1092 Views 0 Comments RAAF Richmond

The roar of jet engines, the thrill of aerial displays and a century of proud history came together at RAAF

Personnel from RAAF Base Richmond on the Out of the Shadows Lifeline walk. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Bringing suicide prevention Out of the Shadows

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 752 Views 0 Comments Lifeline, National Suicide Prevention Day, RAAF Richmond

Earlier this month, RAAF Base Richmond participated in Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows Walk, to remember the lives of those

An Australian Army M1A2 Abrams main battle tank boards HMAS Adelaide during sea transportability trials at the Port of Townsville, Queensland. Story by Eamon McCaughan. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Martin

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

Army’s new armour makes waves at sea

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1100 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), HMAS Adelaide, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

A trial conducted with HMAS Adelaide this month has demonstrated Navy’s ability to move some of Army’s newest and heaviest land combat

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 785 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 2914 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 soldier Bombardier Sean Dermody, of the School of Artillery, speaks to another Army soldier at Puckapunyal, Victoria. Story by Captain Charles Miranda. Photos by Corporal Johnny Huang.

Australian Army News

Instructors the backbone of land domain training

25/09/202525/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2760 Views 0 Comments Puckapunyal, School of Artillery

By his own admission, there has been a lot of yelling and running around in the past six weeks at

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 2699 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 2989 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

From left, Flight Lieutenant Thomas Ure, Squadron Leader Dee Irwin and Sergeant Michelle Carmona outside the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Force Headquarters in Juba, South Sudan. Story and photo by Squadron Leader Benjamin Clarke.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Supporting peace from behind the scenes

25/09/202525/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 699 Views 0 Comments Operation Aslan, UN Peacekeeping

While peacekeeping operations often spotlight boots on the ground, it is the behind-the-scenes professionals who keep the mission moving. CAPTION:

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 3384 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

Soldiers from the 10th/27th Battalion, the Royal South Australia Regiment, conduct a live-fire assault on an enemy trench system at the Murray Bridge Training Area at the conclusion of Exercise Rhino Run. Story by Captain Peter March. Photos by Signaller Andrew Foote.

Australian Army News

10/27RSAR ready to respond

24/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3233 Views 0 Comments 10/27 Battalion Royal South Australian Regiment, Exercise Rhino Run

Residents of the Adelaide Hills town of Woodside were met with an unusual sight during Exercise Rhino Run, when soldiers

Lance Corporal Alex O'Neill, of 6th Engineer Support Regiment, operates a military dozer during culvert construction on Erub Island as part of the 2025 Army Ailan Community Assistance Program (AACAP). Story by Captain Jordan Grantham. Photos by Captain Joanne Leca.

Australian Army News

Army and First Nations communities build together

24/09/202524/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3149 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP

Soldiers continue to put their skills to the test on the first Army Ailan Community Assistance Program (AACAP) in the

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 3483 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

An Australian Army Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle - Light ready for final delivery to the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Gabriella Sudano. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF capability boosted by Hawkei

23/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3604 Views 0 Comments Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), Hawkei, No. 2 Security Forces Squadron, RAAF Amberley

Defence’s Land Systems Division handed over the final Australian Army Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) to the Royal

Leading Seaman Aircrewman Jess Muir observes HMAS Ballarat during a South China Sea transit as part of Regional Presence Deployment 25-4. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photo by Petty Officer Jacob Kambanaros.

News Royal Australian Navy

Frigate and flight find their rhythm

19/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4413 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, Regional Presence Deployment

HMAS Ballarat recently sailed from her home port in Western Australia on a three-month regional presence deployment throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Members of the Australian Defence Force, RAAF Association, guests and representatives from Allied and Axis powers prepare for the wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph in Hobart. Story by Flying Officer Wendy Pyper. Photos by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

News Royal Australian Air Force

More than heroism: Battle of Britain tribute

19/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4145 Views 0 Comments Battle of Britain, WWII

Eighty-five years ago, a fierce aerial campaign changed the course of history. CAPTION: Members of the Australian Defence Force, RAAF Association,