Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

The National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System fires an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile during its first Australian live-fire at Woomera Test Range in South Australia. Story and photos by Private Nicholas Marquis.

New National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile tested

21/11/202309/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1844 Views 0 Comments 16th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, AMRAAM missiles, Chief of Army, Defence Strategic Review, HX77 Truck, NASAMS, Woomera Test Range

The roar of the rocket engine broke through the silence as the first Australian live-fire of the National Advanced Surface

Leading Seaman Kalani Brinkmeier (left) and Able Seaman Samuel Speakman from HMAS Toowoomba on the flight deck during flying operation as part of Operation Argos. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

News Royal Australian Navy Videos

Toowoomba supports North Korea sanctions – sailors hurt

21/11/202321/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2979 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Argos, Regional Presence Deployment, united Nations Security Council

The crew of HMAS Toowoomba have supported United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea during a regional presence deployment.

Corporal Casey Childs, a supplier with RAAF 33 Squadron, checks inventory at Gimhae Air Base, in South Korea during Exercise Vigilant Defense 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Going global with supply role

21/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1005 Views 0 Comments ADF Gap Year, Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Korea, No. 33 Squadron

Air Force Corporal Casey Childs has come a long way since moving around during her childhood and settling in the

News Royal Australian Air Force

UXO demolition needs steady hands

17/11/202321/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1383 Views 0 Comments EOD, No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), UXO

Disposing of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on an air weapons range is no small feat, and requires skilled technicians from across

ADV Cape Capricorn's seaboat is recovered with the help of Private Crosher under the guidance of the davit operator, Leading Seaman Matthew Anderson, during a sea-experience day.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

Army sea riders get valuable exposure

17/11/202319/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1487 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, ADV Cape Capricorn, HMAS Coonawarra, Maritime Border Command

Personnel from Army’s 1st Brigade, Maritime Border Command and HMAS Coonawarra embarked one of Navy’s newest assets – ADV Cape

Members of the Australian Defence Force abseil 130 metres down the Central Park Tower in Perth's CBD for the annual Central Park Plunge, raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Story by Stephanie Hallen. Photo b y Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Taking the plunge for a cancer cause

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1161 Views 0 Comments No. 25 Squadron

A whopping 130 metres above St George’s Terrace in the Perth CBD, members of the Navy, Army and Air Force

RAAF Sergeant Ryan Pedder travelled to the central coast to have his haircut by Instagram content maker Nick Senem. Story by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Barber chair conversations for mental health

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1138 Views 0 Comments mental health, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown, Top Blokes Foundation

Sergeants Ryan Pedder and Connor O’Neill and Leading Aircraftman Liam Ramsay took a seat in the barber chair to have

Leading Aircraftman Zachary Delaney (second from left), a RAAF linguist speaks to a Republic of Korea Air Force member on the flightline at Gimhae Air Base, in South Korea. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Linguist builds cultural bridges

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 954 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Force School of Languages, Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Korea, No. 33 Squadron

Learning a language is no easy feat, but for Leading Aircraftman Zachary Delaney, it’s a challenge he’s excelled at during

The bronze statue honouring Sister Greta Towner's service in Blackall’s Memorial Park, Queensland. Story by Captain Cath Batch. Photos by Major Edward Dahlheimer.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing History Lest We Forget

Nursing service wrought in bronze

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1121 Views 0 Comments Service Nurses, WWI

Once just a name on the Blackall State School honour roll in Queensland, Sister Greta Towner (1891-1961), who served as

This year’s ADF Cyber Skills Association’s capstone Cyber Skills Challenge is expected to have more than 1000 competitors from November 20 to 24. Photo by Tim Standing.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Personnel test their cyber skills

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1245 Views 0 Comments ADF Cyber Skills Challenge

More than 1000 competitors are expected to join this year’s ADF Cyber Skills Association’s (CSA) capstone Cyber Skills Challenge (CSC).

Members from Australia’s Federation Guard prepare for a ceremonial sunset during the Sea Power Conference closing ceremony in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Commander Ben Willee. Photo by Able Seaman Lucinda Allanson.

News Royal Australian Navy

Navy happy with Indo-Pacific Expo 2023

16/11/202316/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1214 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force, Chief of Navy, Sea Power Conference

Naval and maritime experts from the across the globe gathered in Sydney from November 7 to 9 for the Indo-Pacific

1 Light Horse Re-Enactment Troop, followed by the 12/16 Hunter River Lancers and 12 Light Horse Association march through the Armidale city centre at the freedom-of-entry parade. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.

Australian Army News

Freedom-of-entry parade marks 75 years

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1234 Views 0 Comments 12/16 Hunter River Lancers, Freedom of Entry

“Who goes there!?” challenged Commander New England Police District, Superintendent Steve Laksa, with his hand raised. CAPTION: 1 Light Horse Re-Enactment Troop,

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond and his wife Jodi Hammond with NCIS actor Todd Lasance, and NCIS: Sydney actors, at the show's Sydney launch. Story by Lieutenant Brendan Trembath. Photo by Able Seaman Lucinda Allanson.

News Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy’s key role in new TV series

16/11/202317/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1796 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy

Navy people, ships and aircraft added authenticity and action to NCIS: Sydney, the first international edition of the highly successful

Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern, of 35 Squadron, during Operation Solania in Honiara, the Solomon Islands. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

ADF People

Whirlwind start to loadmaster career

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 941 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania, RAAF Amberley, Solomon Islands

Since becoming a loadmaster with 35 Squadron, Corporal Mitchell Hordern’s feet have hardly touched the ground. CAPTION: Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern,

Corporal Stacey Kitcher from Army History Unit places a Victoria Cross and medal set into the display case at the Australian Army Infantry Museum, Singleton. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Rare exhibit of VCs at Singleton

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 931 Views 0 Comments School of Infantry, Victoria Cross

There were no comfort breaks for Major Steve Muir on a flight from Perth to Sydney with a collection of

Navy Chaplain Bradley Galvin addresses HMAS Toowoomba ship’s company as they commemorate Remembrance Day in the East China Sea during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Commander Kieran Davis. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Toowoomba united in remembrance

16/11/202317/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1073 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Toowoomba, Last Post, Remembrance Day

The Last Post sounded aboard HMAS Toowoomba at 11am on November 11 for the 2023 Remembrance Day ceremony, led by

Sergeant Brodie Stewart, left, Chief Petty Officer Sarah Lindsay, Flight Lieutenant Abdul Khan and Chaplin Darren Cronshaw engage with community members at the Melbourne Grand Mosque. Story by By Flight Lieutenant Abdul Khan.

ADF People

ADF reaches out to the Muslim community

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 949 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

Every Friday at the Melbourne Grand Mosque, Muslims come together for the Jumu’ah prayer – a gathering of great cultural

Flying Officer Frances Phelan, an air mobility officer with 33 Squadron, conducts air-to-air refuelling during Exercise Vigilant Defense. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Mission confidence soars after hard work

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 792 Views 0 Comments Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

Flying Officer Frances Phelan is making essential connections for RAAF, most recently during Exercise Vigilant Defense in Korea. CAPTION: Flying Officer

Australian Army Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Solemn service in Solomons

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1258 Views 0 Comments AFP, HMAS Choules, Pacific Games, Remembrance Day, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Solomon Islands

With the poignant sound of the Last Post echoing throughout the ship, HMAS Choules took an operational pause to conduct

Information systems specialist Seaman Kyle Bergan, left, and communications specialist Seaman Alex Meiklejohn conduct a fault-finding exercise in the communication centre simulator. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Cinaed Finall. Photos by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

New era for information systems training

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1229 Views 0 Comments Communications and Information Systems – Information Systems (CIS-I), Defence Force School of Signals, HMAS Cerberus

Following six months of intensive training, the first initial-entry streamed Communications and Information Systems – Information Systems (CIS-I) sailors will