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CONTACT magazine

Science & Technology

Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile during a flight test in 2002. US Navy photo.
News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Australia buying Tomahawk cruise missiles

17/03/202311/01/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2569 Views 1 Comment Tomahawk

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of

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The Royal Australian Air Force's first MQ-4C Triton unveiled in California.
News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology USA Videos 

Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton officially unveiled

17/03/202318/03/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 16674 Views 8 Comments MC-4C Triton

Northrop Grumman formally unveiled Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton autonomous aircraft in Palmdale, California on 16 March 2023 (local time) –

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Katherine Bennell-Pegg – Australia's first female astronaut trainee. Image supplied.
Australian News Science & Technology 

First female Aussie astronaut

10/03/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2144 Views 1 Comment astronaut, International Space Station, Katherine Bennell-Pegg

An Australian woman will make history as she heads to Germany for astronaut training with the European Space Agency (ESA).

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A Ghost Robotics unmanned ground vehicle supports Australian soldiers in clearing an enemy position. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
News Science & Technology 

Discussion paper suggests AI may command humans on future battlefields

07/03/202312/03/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2202 Views 0 Comments

A Monash University-led paper suggests artificial intelligences could lead armies of the future onto battlefields. FILE PHOTO: A Ghost Robotics

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Australian Army soldier load rations on to a G-Wagon during a flood-assist operation. Image digitally altered by CONTACT.
ADF News Science & Technology 

ADF rolling out gluten-, dairy-, nut-free and religion-friendly ration packs

01/03/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7551 Views 20 Comments Combat Ration Packs

The Australian Defence Force is rolling out a range of purpose-designed combat rations to better serve the needs of the

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HMAS Brisbane is one of the Hobart-class destroyers in the fleet. Photo by Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.
News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Five-year anniversary of Australian Aegis operations

01/03/202328/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2012 Views 0 Comments Aegis, Hobart-class

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand congratulates the Royal Australian Navy on achieving five years of operations for the Aegis

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Two RAZER guided munitions under a STRIX drone – both new designs developed in Australia by BAE Systems Australia. Image supplied.
Australian News Science & Technology 

Aussie-designed mid-size guided bombs unveiled at Avalon

28/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3077 Views 0 Comments Avalon Airshow

BAE Systems Australia has announced the design and development of a new sovereign guided munition concept to be known as

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Image supplied
Australian News Science & Technology 

Surprise results at Avalon Innovation Awards

28/02/202328/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2737 Views 0 Comments Avalon Airshow

In a first for the Avalon Innovation Awards, presented today on the first day of AVALON 2023, both the National

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A STRIX mockup unveiled on the BAE Systems stand at the Avalon Airshow. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Science & Technology 

BAE Systems unveils innovative new Aussie drone

28/02/202328/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4071 Views 0 Comments Avalon Airshow

On day one at the International Airshow at Avalon, BAE Systems Australia unveiled a hybrid, tandem-wing, multi-domain and multi-role unmanned

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Ben and Kate Hibbert, assisted by Warrant Officer Class 2 Craig Jeffery, view the ‘Windows to the Past’ Anglesea Barracks Augmented Reality application. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis. Photo by Sergeant William Guthrie.
Australian Army History News Science & Technology 

Step back in time at Anglesea Barracks

27/02/202304/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1828 Views 0 Comments Anglesea Barracks

Imagine stepping back more than 200 years with a pair of glasses. CAPTION: Ben and Kate Hibbert, assisted by Warrant

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Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Piggott from Defence Space Command talking with other ADF team members on Exercise Global Sentinel 22 in California. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers.
Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology USA 

Royal Australian Navy recruiting for Space Command

15/02/202317/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2940 Views 0 Comments Defence Space Command

While it heavily relies on satellites, Navy has the smallest representation within Defence Space Command. CAPTION: Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Piggott

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Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith tests a Defence Force Recruiting virtual reality headset at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story by Petty Officer Jake Badior. Photo by Leading Seaman Tara Morrison.
News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Navy life at the touch of a button

15/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1973 Views 0 Comments Commander Australian Fleet, Defence Force Recruiting, STEM, Virtual Reality (VR)

The Navy is using 360-degree virtual reality (VR) technology to bring its people, ships and submarines to communities around Australia.

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Workers at BAE Systems Maritime Australia use the Hunter digital simulation tool to help optimise the Hunter-class frigate program schedule at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. Story by Emma Taylor.
News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Sovereign industry 

Digital shipyard tool boosts program

03/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1558 Views 0 Comments BAE Systems Maritime, Hunter-class frigate

BAE Systems Maritime Australia, who will deliver nine state-of-the-art Hunter-class frigates for Navy, have further enhanced the shipbuilding process by

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A Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missile on display in Williamtown, NSW, during Air Force week in 1966. Story by Bill Condie. Photo Courtesy AWM P00448.034.
Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Looking back at missile testing in Australia

27/01/202328/01/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2403 Views 0 Comments DSTG

Lessons learnt from British missile testing gave Australia decades of advantage. This history article tells the story of Defence Science

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Director General Warfare Innovation, Royal Australian Navy, Commodore Darron Kavanagh inspects the ‘Dive-LD’ autonomous underwater vehicle. Photos by Dan Gosse Images.
News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology USA 

Ghost Shark a stealthy ‘game-changer’

16/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3118 Views 3 Comments extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles (XL-AUVs), Ghost Shark

An autonomous robotic undersea warfare vehicle is being designed and manufactured in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy. CAPTION: Director

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Arrival of the first P-8A Poseidon 4801 to RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand. RNZAF photo.
New Zealand News Science & Technology 

New Zealand’s first Poseidon delivered

15/12/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2105 Views 0 Comments

Royal New Zealand Air Force’s first of four new multi-mission long-range maritime patrol aircraft has arrived in New Zealand and

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From left, Privates Shane Bagley, Frank Atkinson, Jack Dawes and Aleksandar Radovic in front of the first live-fire range-in-a-box in HMAS Adelaide. Story by Lieutenant Peter Kuschert. Photo by Leading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.
Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Videos 

Innovation enabled soldiers to use live ammo at sea

07/12/202207/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3342 Views 1 Comment 1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, HMAS Adelaide, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, live-fire range-in-a-box (LFRiB)

Innovation enabled Australian soldiers on Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 to take part in various live-fire training serials on board HMAS Adelaide

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B-21 Raider unveiled 2 December 2022. Official photo.
News Science & Technology USA 

B-21 Raider (RAAF F-111 replacement?) unveiled

03/12/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 8228 Views 16 Comments

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force today unveiled the B-21 Raider. CAPTION: B-21 Raider unveiled 2 December 2022. Official

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Wing Commander Keirin Joyce, Program Chief Engineer of Air Force’s Future Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems Programs Office at the World of Drones and Robotics Congress. Story by Jake Zappia.
News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

ADF and industry celebrate drone innovation

25/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1826 Views 0 Comments UAS, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

The successful partnership between Defence and industry in the development of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technologies has been highlighted at

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Defence scientists Mr Alex Rohl, right, and Dr Susannah Whitney, second from left, feature on a panel at PAX Aus 2022. Story by Sophie Calabretto.
ADF Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Cyber skills to strengthen Defence training

15/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1894 Views 0 Comments DST, DSTO