Asia – CONTACT magazine

Australian Army, New Zealand Defence Force, United States Marine Corps and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel hold an Anzac Day service during Exercise Balikatan in Aporawan, Philippines. Story by Captain Jacob Joseph. Photos by Leading Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.

A true Anzac field service in the Philippines

29/04/202629/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 524 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Balikatan, US Marines

As dawn broke above the West Philippine Sea, hundreds of Australian, New Zealand, Filippino and United States personnel gathered to

From left Korean War veterans Colin Hallett (NZ), Ronald J. Foyle (CAN) and Raymond Rogers (AUS) during a ceremony for the 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Kapyong at Gapyeong, Korea. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Asia Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

The stand that shaped a battalion

29/04/202603/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 493 Views 0 Comments 3RAR, Chief of Army, Kapyong, Korean War

A contingent of Australian soldiers, predominantly from Townsville’s 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), made the pilgrimage to South

Philippines Naval Vessel BRP Diego Silang follows HMAS Toowoomba while they conduct officer of the watch manoeuvres during a maritime cooperative activity off the west coast of Luzon. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Australians and US sail with Philippine forces

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 408 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, Philippine Navy, US Navy

It was a day of poise, professionalism, and precision as three partner nations sailed and flew in formation off the

Lieutenant Kane Kasemchainan and Sub-Lieutenant Yasmin Dench, centre, were immersed in South Korean culture during their time on ROKS Hansando.

ADF People Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Training cruise strengthens naval ties

13/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 472 Views 0 Comments South Korean Navy

Royal Australian Navy officers Lieutenant Kane Kasemchainan and Sub-Lieutenant Yasmin Dench recently joined the South Korean Navy’s training ship ROKS Hansando for

Operation Linesmen and Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense personnel salute remains recovered from White Horse Hill in the Korean DMZ. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath.

Asia Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

ADF aids KIA recovery from Korean DMZ

19/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1519 Views 0 Comments Korean War, Operation Linesmen

Seventy-five years after the Korean War started, the Australian Defence Force has supported a successful remains recovery mission on a

Three Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft, the largest contingent to date, on the apron at Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth during Operation Gateway. Story by Flight Lieutenant Brent Moloney. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Three of a kind in Malaysia

18/12/202518/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1519 Views 0 Comments No. 292 Squadron, No. 92 Wing, Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth, Royal Malaysian Armed Forces

Operation Gateway’s latest rotation in November and December 2025 witnessed a trio of RAAF P-8A Poseidons operating from Royal Malaysian

Medical officer Flight Lieutenant Alannah Frazzetto, of 1 Expeditionary Health Services, Royal Australian Air Force, serves on Operation Gateway at RMAF Butterworth, Malaysia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Brent Moloney. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Teams behind the scenes on Op Gateway

12/12/202512/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1813 Views 0 Comments Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircrew flew long sorties over the North Indian Ocean or the South China Sea

Australian and Philippine Army mortarmen fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Kasangga. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Philippines engagement taken to new level

10/12/202510/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1609 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), Philippines

The Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines completed their largest dedicated program of training and expertise exchange

Australian and Philippine Air Force members and representatives of Wheelchairs for Kids and the Angeles City Returned Services League, with two of the wheelchairs delivered to Clark Air Base, Philippines.

Asia Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Wheelchairs fly so children can thrive

05/12/202505/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1364 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, C-130J Hercules, RAAF Richmond, RSL

On November 18, some important and precious Christmas gifts sat on board a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules. CAPTION:

Australian and Philippine soldiers operate Zodiac inflatable boats as part of small boats and coastal defence training during Exercise Kasangga. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Small boats, big connections

28/11/202528/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1589 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Exercise Kasangga, Philippines

Three Zodiac boats full of Australian and Filipino soldiers landed on a rocky outcrop down the coast from a fortified

Australian Army Sapper Nicholas Carmont cooks food during a jungle survival course in the Philippines on Exercise Kasangga. Story by Warrant officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photos by Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Asia Australian Army News

Tracking skills in Philippine jungle

26/11/202522/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 997 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga

Corporal Rory Murray thought he might’ve been OK at combat tracking as he followed bent leaves and footprints that turned

Philippine Army soldiers fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Kasangga. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

Asia Australian Army News

Trading combat knowledge in the Philippines

26/11/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 917 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Kasangga, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P)

From beautiful beaches to dense, mountain jungle, a combat team of Australian soldiers traded knowledge with Philippine counterparts on the

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Alastair Wuth patrols through the jungle during Exercise Bersama Lima 2025 in Kuantan, Malaysia. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Asia Australian Army News Videos

Jungle assault on Bersama Lima

10/10/202512/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2503 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Bersama Lima, Malaysia

The sharp sound of simulated gunfire and mortars echoed through the jungle as coloured smoke billowed across the canopy. CAPTION:

Australian Army image specialist Corporal Andrew Shaw captures naval manoeuvres during Exercise Bersama Lima 2025, off the coast of Malaysia. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Air Specialist Class 1 Christian Sparks RAF.

Asia Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Regional partners mark firsts on Ex Bersama Lima

08/10/202508/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1381 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bersama Lima, Five Power Defence Arrangements, HADR, Malaysia

This year’s Exercise Bersama Lima marked a series of firsts and a strong emphasis on future-ready capabilities of the Five

Royal Australian Air Force aviators help load cargo to a C-17A Globemaster at Ho Chi Minh City International Airport before deploying Vietnamese UN peacekeepers to South Sudan. Story and photos by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Asia Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Aussies proud of peacekeeping role

08/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1419 Views 0 Comments UN Peacekeeping, UNMISS, Vietnam

Every pallet loaded and every list checked gave Private Naomi Manton and Leading Aircraftman Blair Andrews pride in supporting the

Asia Australian Army News

Sappers welcomed to the jungle

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1544 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

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 3460 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 3754 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

A RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight line at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, during Exercise Thai Boomerang. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

That’s a wrap for Thai Boomerang 2025

24/09/202524/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4175 Views 0 Comments Exercise Thai Boomerang, No. 1 Squadron, No. 4 Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force, Thailand

Exercise Thai Boomerang 2025 has come to an end with a closing ceremony at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base

HMAS Ballarat's boarding party approaches Royal Brunei Navy ship KDB Darulaman during a maritime exercise off the coast of Brunei Darussalam during Exercise Penguin. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Australia and Brunei strengthen defence ties

23/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4202 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Exercise Penguin, HMAS Ballarat, Royal Brunei Navy

For the first time since 2018, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy have completed Exercise Penguin, a

← Previous