News – Page 8 – CONTACT magazine

M1A2 Abrams from 2nd Cavalry Regiment engage targets during a heavy armoured capability system live-fire exercise at the Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photo by Lance Corporal Christien Vestergaard.

Theory becomes reality for combat engineers

03/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1525 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, M1110 Joint Assault Bridge, M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

Combat engineering vehicles once only existed in theory for Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Mitchell. CAPTION: M1A2 Abrams from 2nd Cavalry Regiment

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 1676 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

Communication electronic technicians Sergeant Dean Chipman and Corporal Wayne Matthews, from the Surveillance and Control Training Unit, test a radio at 452 Squadron, Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Training team builds success through innovation

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 726 Views 0 Comments Edgy Air Force Lab, No. 452 Squadron

A team at the Surveillance and Control Training Unit (SACTU) has built a low-cost solution to a long-standing equipment shortfall,

Asia Australian Army News

Sappers welcomed to the jungle

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1216 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

An F-35A Lightning II taxis in after a mission from RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Arnhem Thunder 25. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes twice in the Top End

02/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1340 Views 0 Comments Exercise Arnhem Thunder, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Arming multiple F-35A Lightning II aircraft for live weapons drops, twice a day, is no easy feat – but armament

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 1116 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

Soldiers from 8/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, traverse across a rope obstacle during the annual Duke of Gloucester Cup in Tully. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo by Lance Corporal Jessica Gray.

Australian Army News

Rain adds pain to competition

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1279 Views 0 Comments 1RAR, 8/9 RAR, Duke of Gloucester Cup

Covered in mud, tired, and with every item of their kit drenched, infantrymen were pushed to see which battalion could

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.

Australian Army News

New destructive breaching capability on display

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1819 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 1271 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 1378 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 2465 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 1581 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 1360 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 1900 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 2354 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 3929 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 3168 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 3180 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 3479 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 1164 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: