News – Page 4 – CONTACT magazine

Able Seaman Chloe Lampasona fires the M2HB-QCB at an aerial target on the upper decks of HMAS Toowoomba in the Philippine Sea during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

A weapon that’s old but gold

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 715 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba

For all the focus on next‑generation weapons like hypersonic missiles, lasers and drones, the reality is that security often comes

From left, Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh and the HMAS Sydney Association treasurer stand in front of the Bradleys Head Naval Memorial in Sydney, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Memorial’s enduring significance recognised

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 558 Views 0 Comments

In a ceremony at Bradleys Head in Sydney, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh and Commander Australian Fleet

Lieutenant Matthew Jennings conducts anti-submarine warfare exercises with Leading Seaman Lachlan Wyatt aboard HMAS Toowoomba as part of Exercise Nichi Gou Trident. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Submarine hunters unite

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 800 Views 0 Comments Exercise Nichi Gou Trident (NGT), HMAS Toowoomba, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Submarine

If you think ‘finding a needle in a haystack’ is the best idiom to describe the impossible, then you’ve never

HMAS Warramunga’s embarked MH-60R launches decoy flares during a flying exercise at sea. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Keigan Gunther. Photos by Leading Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

News Royal Australian Navy

Deployment strengthens regional ties

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 461 Views 1 Comment HMAS Warramunga, Regional Presence Deployment

Cutting across the Top End’s tropical waters, HMAS Warramunga has sailed into HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin after successfully completing its regional presence deployment (RPD)

Finalists in the Royal Australian Navy's 2026 Sailor of the Year, including winner Leading Seaman Jesse Nicholson (third from right), at the Australian War Memorial. Story by Lieutenant Jonathan Wills. Photos by Kris Kerehona.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Navy’s 2026 Sailor of the Year recognised

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 450 Views 0 Comments AWM, Chief of Navy, Sailor of the Year

In a ceremony at HMAS Kuttabul on March 6, Leading Seaman Jesse Nicholson was announced as the Royal Australian Navy’s 2026 Sailor

A member of the maintenance crew directs a RAAF P-8A Poseidon post-flight on the apron, at United States Air Force Andersen Air Base, Guam, during Exercise Sea Dragon. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jody Blakeley. Photo by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Enhancing Poseidon lethality and readiness

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 744 Views 0 Comments Andersen AFB, Exercise Sea Dragon, No. 12 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, US Navy

In the deep waters near Guam, RAAF deployed a P-8A Poseidon and 50 aviators to Andersen Air Force Base for

An Australian Army AH-64E Apache from the 1st Aviation Regiment, flies at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, 27 November 2025. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

Australian News Sovereign industry

NIOA sets sights on Apache ammo supply

01/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 562 Views 0 Comments AH-64E Apache, NIOA

Australian weapons and munitions prime NIOA and US aerospace and defence company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) have

An Australian Army soldier signals 'all clear' to launch a drone using first-person-view goggles during the Modify and Operate Attack Drone (FPV) course at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Story by Major Martin Hadley. Photos by Sergeant Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Army accelerates drone training

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 652 Views 0 Comments 2RAR, 5/7 RAR, Armed Forces of Ukraine, drones, first-person view drones (FPVD), Operation Kudu, Puckapunyal, Royal Australian Regiment

Perched atop the rugged hillside and camouflaged in hides, teams operate their drones, sweeping for targets among the close terrain,

A new milestone project will focus on turning operational waste into usable power. Story by Carolyn Bishop.

ADF Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Defence project powers waste-to-energy innovation

27/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 466 Views 0 Comments ADSUN

A new multi-state research collaboration is advancing innovative waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions to support Defence operations across northern Australia. CAPTION: A

Journalists from Polynesia and Micronesia, along with staff from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, stand on the helipad of ADV Reliant at Garden Island, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photos by Able Seaman Taylor Johnson.

News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Developing Reliant friendships

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 318 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, HMAS Kuttabul

A group of journalists from across Micronesia and Polynesia visited HMAS Kuttabul, Sydney, in March for a bespoke tour of the

A 100 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire MK VIII aircraft (058-602) takes off at Warbirds Over Scone 2024. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photo by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Flying the past to see the future

27/03/202628/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 432 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron

An air force that fixes its gaze only on the future does not see more clearly, but closes one eye

The Tunnel display at the More, Together Awards and Summit Awards at a previous Australian Defence Science Technology and Research Summit. Story by Rachelle Todd. Photo by Navin Chandra.

ADF Australian Army Cyber MRF-D News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Space Division

ADSTAR summit to focus on accelerating capability

27/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 339 Views 0 Comments

Leading researchers, industry partners and defence specialists are preparing for the 2026 Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research (ADSTAR) Summit.

Royal Australian Navy Recruit Abby Watts on board HMAS Choules off the coast of New South Wales during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photo by Seaman Genae Kelly.

ADF People News Royal Australian Navy

New recruits test sea legs

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 446 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Choules

Testing their sea legs for the first time, 45 Navy recruits from HMAS Cerberus embarked on HMAS Choules for a sea ride they will

Leading Seaman Amy Matthews takes observations of her casualty during a damage-control exercise on board HMAS Toowoomba. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Survival training gives sailors an edge

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 311 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba

At sea, damage-control teams train daily to combat fires, floods, medical emergencies or toxic hazards. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Amy Matthews

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules departs RAAF Base Richmond, NSW, as part of Exercise Trojan Compass. Story by Flight Lieutenant Chloe Megson. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Training as one team

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 341 Views 0 Comments Exercise Trojan Compass, RAAF Richmond, RNZAF

Exercise Trojan Compass brought the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) together at RAAF

International space chiefs, representatives and senior enlisted officers attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. Story by Samantha Cooper. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

Cyber News Space Division

Global space chiefs unite in Canberra

25/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 405 Views 0 Comments AWM, Space and Cyber

The inaugural Space Chief’s Conclave brought together international space leaders for an inspiring day of connection, collaboration and forward‑looking discussion.