Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

A Royal Australian Air Force 77 Squadron F-35A Lightning II aircraft takes off from Nellis Air Force Base during Exercise Red Flag Nellis. Story. y Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. US. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

RAAF flies Red Flag over Nevada

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1550 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler, Exercise Red Flag, F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 41 Wing, No. 77 Squadron

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has taken to the skies for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1 with its biggest

A member of the public from Halifax, QLD unloads critical supplies from a CH-47F Chinook helicopter from 5th Aviation Regiment during their assistance to North Queensland floods in February 2025. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Captain Chloe Elmwood.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Aviation assets support Ingham community

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 876 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, No. 27 Squadron, Queensland Flood Assist

Choppers have taken to the skies in North Queensland to provide vital aircraft support to the state-government led response to

Soldiers from 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment assemble a medium girder bridge at Ollera Creek, Townsville, during Defence Assistance to the Civil Community following severe weather and flooding across the region. Story by Captain Brittany Evans. Photos by Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Australian Army News Videos

Sappers provide support in Townsville

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1514 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Medium Girder Bridge, Queensland Flood Assist, Sapper

The aftermath of more than 1400mm of rain has devastated communities of Far North Queensland, with part of the Ollera

HMAS Brisbane's piping party pipes the side as Vice Admiral Donald Chalmers (retd) steps off the ship after a ship's tour alongside Fleet Base East in Sydney, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Angus Tyson. Photos by Leading Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

ADF People History Royal Australian Navy

Former navy chief returns to HMAS Kuttabul

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1051 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kuttabul

Former Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Donald Chalmers (retd) has been piped aboard HMAS Kuttabul for the first time in almost

An aerial view of the new community store being constructed adjacent to the airstrip in Bäniyala, Northern Territory, as part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photos by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News

Engineering food security for remote community

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 733 Views 0 Comments 19th Chief Engineer Works (19CEW), AACAP

Imagine running out of fresh bread or milk when the closest grocery store is more than 200km away. CAPTION: An aerial

Australian Army soldiers WO2 Bryan Griff and WO2 Paul Thornhill gather with contractors from Reeves Envico and Hebou to discuss the progress of the PNGAus Partnerships’ Potable Water Infrastructure Works at the PNG Defence Force’s Goldie River Training Depot, PNG. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photos by Corporal Joshua Thomas.

Australian Army News Overseas

Army engineers tap into new water supply for PNGDF

07/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1428 Views 0 Comments 12th Chief Engineer Works (12CEW), PNGDF

Most of us consider a clean, accessible and infinite supply of water a normal part of our day, if not

HMAS Stuart conducts a replenishment at sea with Indian Navy Ships Shakti and Tabar with INS Kadmatt behind as part of Exercise Malabar 24. Photo by Leading Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.

News Royal Australian Navy

Defence Data Standards boost Navy capability

07/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1593 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, HMAS Stuart

Navy is using data and analytics to improve the lethality and survivability of the fleet, enabled by new Defence Data

A restored Air Force Vampire aircraft at the History and Heritage Centre, RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Pilot Officer Timothy Sullivan. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Return of the Vampire

07/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1561 Views 0 Comments History and Heritage – Air Force Restoration Support Section (HH-AF RSS), No. 23 Squadron, RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre

The RAAF’s 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron has acquired its first aircraft after a 65-year break from flying: a 1950s-era

Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy Brigadier Troy Francis is honoured to lead an institution he always wanted to be involved with. Photos by John Carroll.

ADF ADF People

ADFA appointment a highlight for brigadier

04/02/202504/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1879 Views 0 Comments ADFA

Brigadier Troy Francis has been appointed commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) for the next three years. CAPTION: Commandant

Murielle Ahern with her family during her 100th birthday celebration at HMAS Moreton, Brisbane. Story by Lieutenant Michael Wilson. Photos by Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

ADF People History Royal Australian Navy Veterans

Trailblazing veteran waltzes into 100 years

04/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1198 Views 0 Comments HMAS Moreton, HMAS Penguin, WWII

Family, friends and HMAS Moreton personnel turned out in force to help celebrate a remarkable milestone, Murielle Ahern’s 100th birthday.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, support the Queensland Police Service with door-knocking during severe weather in Townsville. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Australian Army News

Personnel wade in to assist during Qld flooding

04/02/202508/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1174 Views 0 Comments 3 RAR, 3rd Brigade, DACC

As residents in far-north Queensland braced for flooding in the wake of heavy rainfall and damaging winds, Army personnel from

ADV Reliant crew offload the donated fire truck onto the dock at Betio Port, Tarawa, Kiribati. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Aldrich.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Reliant delivers in the Pacific

04/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1383 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kiribati

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant set sail from Brisbane in late December for her first deployment of the year, reaffirming

Leading Aircraftwoman Desiree Stafford and her daughter Aircraftwoman Pani Davidson prepare for the interstate ADF Basketball championships at RAAF Williams, Victoria. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photos by Corporal Michael Currie.

ADF People

Battling for family bragging rights

04/02/202504/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 568 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

Walking out for the 2024 ADF Basketball grand final, Queensland representative and 61-year-old mother of eight Air Force Corporal Desiree

HMAS Hobart's Navigating Officer, Lieutenant Tori Costello, and Commanding Officer, Commander Alisha Withers, guide Hobart as it conducts a replenishment at sea during Exercise La Perouse. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Hobart joins Ex La Perouse 25

04/02/202508/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1098 Views 0 Comments Exercise La Perouse, HMAS Hobart

HMAS Hobart joined eight nations off the coast of Indonesia from January 20 to 24 for the fifth iteration of

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games

Invictus Games success has only just begun

31/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 816 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games

The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 might not have started yet, but Adelaide’s Sean Grimmond is already hailing the event

Invictus Games 2025 Team Australia competitor Katie Chapman. Story by Flying Officer Tina Langridge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games

Cracking on despite a broken back

31/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 831 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games

Breaking your back while snowboarding might put some people off snow sports for life, but not Katie Chapman. CAPTION: Invictus Games

Youth ambassadors climb the main mast on board Sail Training Ship (STS) Young Endeavour during a voyage from Sydney to Newcastle, NSW. Photos by Leading Seaman David Cox.

News Royal Australian Navy

All aboard the sail of a lifetime

31/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1217 Views 0 Comments STS Young Endeavour

Applications are now open for youth development voyages in the Navy-operated tall ship STS Young Endeavour. CAPTION: Youth ambassadors climb the

Army gunners from the 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, fire a 21-gun salute under the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Australia Day celebrations. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

ADF put on a show for Australia Day

31/01/202520/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1377 Views 1 Comment Australia Day

By air, land and sea, the ADF played a starring role in Australia Day 2025 festivities on Sydney Harbour to

The crew of the A2-487 Iroquois, at a village near Garaina, PNG, seek witnesses to the crash of a RAAF Caribou in August 1972.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

Air-rescue bravery rewarded 40 years after event

31/01/202502/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1413 Views 4 Comments No. 5 Squadron, PNG

Nine Royal Australian Air Force crew members who risked their lives on a rescue mission for one of the worst

Invictus Games 2025 Team Australia competitor Kaz Gladysz. Story by Flying Officer Tina Langridge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games

Invictus competitor faces challenges head-on

31/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 568 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games

In a world where many shy away from a challenge, Kaz Gladysz is the embodiment of fearlessness. CAPTION: Invictus Games 2025