News – Page 5 – CONTACT magazine

A TV crew films Australian soldiers as they conduct clearance operations as part of Exercise Arras Walk. Photo by Captain Mark Blackman.

Urban exercise prepares soldiers for modern ops

26/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 883 Views 0 Comments 4th Brigade, 8th/7th Royal Victorian Regiment, Army Reserve, casevac, Exercise Arras Walk, Puckapunyal

Victorian and Tasmanian soldiers took to the streets of Bendigo in full combat ensemble as part of a 10-day training

From left, the Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Hyuga, the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Ballarat and the United States Navy’s USS Fitzgerald sail in company off the coast of Guam during Exercise Malabar. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photo by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Exercise Malabar strengthens maritime partnerships

26/11/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1005 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, Guam, HMAS Ballarat, P-8A Poseidon

Australia joined India, Japan and the United States for Exercise Malabar, a key Indo-Pacific maritime activity designed to deepen interoperability

Philippine Army soldiers fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Kasangga. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Trading combat knowledge in the Philippines

26/11/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 745 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P)

From beautiful beaches to dense, mountain jungle, a combat team of Australian soldiers traded knowledge with Philippine counterparts on the

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell presents 101-year-old Air Force veteran Charles Reif with an Aussie Hero Quilt. Story by Elise Monge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Rodney Welch.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

A lifetime of dedication to country and service

25/11/202525/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 942 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, Chief of Air Force

When Charles Reif enlisted in the Air Force in 1946 at 22 years old as an aircraftman electrical mechanic, he

MQ-4C Triton pilot Flight Lieutenant Ariel White with 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Tindal. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

From dreams to duty

25/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1266 Views 0 Comments MQ-4C Triton, No. 9 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, RAAF Tindal

For Flight Lieutenant Ariel White, a typical day as an air vehicle pilot at 9 Squadron means helping shape the

Three Royal Australian Air Force MQ-4C Triton aircraft on the taxiway at RAAF Base Tindal, NT. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

9 Squadron’s all-seeing unseen new role

25/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1432 Views 1 Comment MQ-4C Triton, No. 9 Squadron, Northrop Grumman Australia, RAAF Edinburgh, RAAF Tindal, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

In June 2023, 9 Squadron was reformed at RAAF Base Edinburgh (with a detachment at RAAF Base Tindal) to operate

Director General Integrated Soldier System Branch, Brigadier Pat Murray, and NIOA’s General Manager - Weapons and Munitions, Mick Ahern, ink the new small arms support contract. Photo supplied by NIOA.

ADF News Sovereign industry

NIOA, Defence sign long-term small arms support contract

25/11/202525/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1215 Views 0 Comments

NIOA has signed a new long-term small arms support contract with the Australian Department of Defence. CAPTION: Director General Integrated

New livery for RNZAF on its new Airbus A321XLR. Images supplied by RNZAF.

New Zealand News

New livery on new transport for RNZAF

22/11/202522/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1386 Views 0 Comments

A six-year lease-to-buy deal to acquire replacement strategic transport aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has been

Commanding Officer 100 Squadron Wing Commander Richard Brougham presents a 100 Squadron challenge coin to James Birt. Story and photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Connecting then and now

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1387 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, WWII

It’s been more than 80 years since James Birt was defending our nation in World War 2, yet he can

The Colour Party presents the 9 Squadron Standard as a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter conducts a flyover at the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide to mark the squadron’s reformation. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photo by Flight Sergeant Rob Hack.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

9 Squadron flies again

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5277 Views 4 Comments MQ-4C Triton, No. 9 Squadron

9 Squadron has officially reformed, marking its proud return to Air Force service with a ceremony at Torrens Parade Ground,

ADF News

Changes to top secret security clearances

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1730 Views 0 Comments

Top Secret-Privileged Access security clearance has replaced Positive Vetting as Australia’s highest-level security clearance. CAPTION: The changes to top secret

Air Mobility Training and Development Unit personnel gather for a group photo at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Sixty years of developing and delivering

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 841 Views 0 Comments Air Mobility Training and Development Unit (AMTDU), RAAF Richmond

Current and past members of Air Mobility Training and Development Unit (AMTDU) came together at RAAF Base Richmond recently to

Surgeon General of the ADF and patron of the Australasian Military Medicine Association, Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett, addresses the conference. Story by Michelle Hoare.

ADF Health and Wellbeing News

Meeting of minds on military medicine

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 883 Views 1 Comment Australasian Military Medicine Association (AMMA)

The biggest ever Australasian Military Medicine Association (AMMA) Conference, held in Adelaide, drew more than 900 military health professionals to

Royal Australian Navy officer Commander Roy Casson, centre, and the team at the Thales Defence Mission Systems facility in Brest, France. Story by Midshipman Thomas Norman.

Europe News Royal Australian Navy

Hunter hits milestone on sonar suite

21/11/202521/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1107 Views 0 Comments Hunter-class frigate, Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, Thales

Another major milestone has been achieved for NuShip Hunter with the successful factory acceptance test (FAT) of the towed body handling system

Frozen blood products can support ADF health clinicians to deliver trauma care in challenging and harsh environments. Story by Michelle Hoare. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Frozen blood a lifesaver on the battlefield

19/11/202519/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 979 Views 0 Comments Joint Health Command

If a soldier is injured on the battlefield and urgently needs blood, fast access to blood products could mean the

Director-General of Security Mike Burgess.

ADF Australian Army Cyber News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Defending Australians against espionage

18/11/202518/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1013 Views 0 Comments

The ADF remains a prime target for foreign intelligence services, according to Australia’s security service. CAPTION: Director-General of Security Mike