News – Page 7 – CONTACT magazine

The crew of HMAS Ballarat hold a morning tea during their regional presence deployment to raise funds and awareness for R U OK? Day. Story and photo by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior.

HMAS Ballarat crew checks in on R U OK? Day

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4079 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, mental health, RUOK

The crew of HMAS Ballarat paused their busy regional presence deployment schedule to mark R U OK? Day at sea.

PNG Minister for Finance Thomas Opa and a Royal Australian Air Force officer unveil the new sign at the opening of the Aviation Heritage Centre at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photos by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Historic aircraft find new home in PNG heritage centre

12/09/202513/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3530 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, PNG

Papua New Guinea’s aviation heritage can now be proudly displayed following the opening of the purpose-built Aviation Heritage Centre at

An Australian Army member from the Parachute Training School descend into Sir Hubert Murray Stadium from a PNG Defence Force aircraft during the Military Tattoo at Port Moresby. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Jack Pearce.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Military Tattoo showcases unity for PNG50

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3919 Views 0 Comments PNG, PNGDF

Music, culture and fireworks lit up Sir Hubert Murray Stadium as Papua New Guinea hosted a Military Tattoo in the

Members of the Royal Australian Air Force’s 1 Squadron at the opening ceremony of Exercise Thai Boomerang 2025. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

Asia Australian Border Force News

Thai Boomerang flies back to Thailand

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3262 Views 0 Comments Exercise Thai Boomerang, No. 1 Squadron, No. 4 Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force

More than 500 personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) are taking part

Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy at at Fleet Base East in Sydney, inspect a Ghost Shark prototype before announcing the contract with Anduril Australia to acquire a new fleet of Australian designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles – known as Ghost Sharks – for the Royal Australian Navy. ADF photo by Kym Smith.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Govt orders “dozens” of Oz-made Ghost Sharks

10/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1650 Views 4 Comments Anduril, Ghost Shark

The government is investing $1.7 billion to acquire a new fleet of Australian‑designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles –

Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez is the first Navy photographer awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross, acknowledging his dedication to capturing the stories of Australia's military personnel through imagery. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo supplied.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

From behind the lens and into the spotlight

09/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4026 Views 0 Comments

Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez is the first Navy photographer awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross, making him the most highly decorated

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

CONTACT fan shoots Riverfire and ‘neighbours’ aircraft

07/09/202513/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4443 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

Dear Brian, I just thought that you’d like to see a couple of photos I shot from the Riverfire practice

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF shines at Riverfire 2025

06/09/202506/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4569 Views 0 Comments

A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler, C-17A Globemaster III and, for the first time, a C-27J Spartan conducted flypasts

Australian Army personnel from the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, join PNG Defence Force members in a ceremonial gun salute during the Fleet Review at APEC Haus, Port Moresby. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Jack Pearce.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Fleet review, open day salute PNG independence

05/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6564 Views 0 Comments 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, HMAS Childers, HMAS Choules, PNG

Thousands lined the waterfront at APEC Haus in Port Moresby this week as naval crews stood to attention and ships

Private Janet Puk, from 4th Health Battalion, examines mosquitoes under the microscope in Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, during Exercise Alon. Story and photos by Sergeant Roger Tang.

Australian Army News Pacific

Soldier combats enemy that’s hard to see

05/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4011 Views 0 Comments 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Alon, Philippines

Battling mosquitoes and torrential rain, an Environmental Health soldier protected Defence members from health risks during Exercise Alon in the

Commander 17th Sustainment Brigade, Brigadier Rebecca Talbot, centre, and Regimental Sergeant Major Andrew Crook visit the newly completed Kup Murri (traditional cooking pit) constructed by 6th Engineer Support Regiment soldiers. Story by Captain Joanne Leca. Photos supplied.

Australian Army News

Cooking up connection on Warraber Island

05/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3740 Views 0 Comments 17th Sustainment Brigade, 19th Chief Engineer Works (19CEW), 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP

Australian Army engineers marked a major milestone on Warraber Island, with the completion of their first community construction project. CAPTION: Commander

Recipients of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award (JCGSA) approach the Sandakan Death March Memorial in Sabah, Malaysia, while retracing the historic route. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget Overseas

A journey of remembrance and learning in Borneo

05/09/202516/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6123 Views 0 Comments Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award, WWII

Recipients of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award (JCGSA) have retraced the route of the single worst atrocity inflicted on

News Royal Australian Air Force

Growler roars through Brisbane on test flight

05/09/202505/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3571 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G ‘Growler’ electronic attack aircraft rehearsed its flying display through the heart of Brisbane today

A C-17A Globemaster flies through Brisbane, rehearsing for the 2025 Brisbane Riverfire event. Photo by Christabel Migliorini.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF rehearsing for Riverfire 2025

04/09/202511/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4507 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster rehearsed its flying display through the heart of Brisbane today ahead of the

A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler lands at Clark Air Base, Philippines, during Exercise Alon 2025. Story by Flying Officer Aarron Dann. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Growlers, Hornets deploy to Philippines for first time

03/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4700 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of the Philippines, EA-18G Growler, Exercise Alon, F/A-18F Super Hornet

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has taken air combat capability to the next level, deploying EA-18G Growlers and F/A-18F

Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan is using his carpentry skills to construct a community hall on Erub Island, Torres Strait, as part of the Army Ailan (Aboriginal) Assistance Program. Story by Captain Joanne Leca. Photos by Corporal L Warwick.

Australian Army News

Sapper gives back to his island home

03/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3147 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP

A soldier has returned to familiar faces of his childhood home to build stronger futures through the Army Ailan (Aboriginal)

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Corporal Matthew Vella, an explosive ordnance disposal assistant from 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron (65ABRS), assesses a Mark 82 bomb with a snake eye tail fin at airstrip at the Townsville Field Training Area. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Sebastian. Photos by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

New foundations for airfield recovery in Australia

03/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6608 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bronze Crocodile, No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, Townsville Field Training Area, US Air Force

A patch of bushland within Townsville Field Training Area is at the heart of a new airbase resilience capability for

Clinicians from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), Royal Air Force (RAF), United States Air Force (USAF) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) lay out medical dummies for an aero-medical evacuation during Exercise Mobility Guardian. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photo from NZDF.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Medical care on the fly across Pacific

03/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6286 Views 0 Comments Exercise Mobility Guardian, No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AMES), RAF, RNZAF, US Air Force

Affectionately know as the ‘Anzacs’, medical technicians from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) have seamlessly integrated into the

ADF News Veterans

One year since suicide Royal Commission report

02/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2181 Views 0 Comments Suicide Royal Commission

One year on since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report, the Returned &

Australian Army soldiers from Battlegroup Ram fire a M777A2 howitzer during Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Story by Major Tom Maclean. Photo by Sergeant Roger Tang.

Australian Army News Pacific

Major exercise in the Philippines

02/09/202507/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3470 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) demonstrated their ability to deliver integrated and