Europe Archives - CONTACT magazine

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank fires during Exercise Jericho Dawn 2016. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie

Australia donates retiring Abrams to Ukraine

18/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 918 Views 9 Comments M1A1 Abrams, M1A2 Abrams, Ukraine

The Australian government has announced it will gift 49 retiring M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to bolster that country’s fight

RAAF armament technicians prepare a guided bomb unit (GBU-32) for use by the Air Task Group in the Middle East region. Photo by Corporal Ben Dempster.

Australian Europe News

Australia’s largest single military assistance package for Ukraine

12/07/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1317 Views 3 Comments Ukraine

Australia continues its steadfast support for Ukraine with the announcement of its largest single military assistance package to date, worth

Chief of the German Army Lieutenant General Alfons Mais and Head of Equipment Department Ministry of Defence, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki prepare to take a test drive of a Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle at Rheinmetall Defense Australia, Brisbane, Queensland. Photo by Marc Dorow.

Australian Europe News Sovereign industry

Australian govt orders Boxers for German Army

02/05/202419/05/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1371 Views 1 Comment

Australia is set to make its largest ever defence export after the Australian government signed a production contract with Rheinmetall

Europe New Zealand News Veterans

Kiwis avoid ‘no-show’ at Gallipoli 2024

28/04/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1962 Views 0 Comments Gallipoli

The Anzac spirit of cooperation and camaraderie was tapped into at Gallipoli this year to allow the New Zealand Defence

Europe News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Aussie Wedgetail coming home after Ukraine mission

04/04/202405/04/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2445 Views 0 Comments Operation Kudu

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft will commence its return to Australia this week after a six-month deployment

A New Zealand soldier supervises a training scenario for recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as part of New Zealand's Operation Tīeke in the United Kingdom. Photo supplied.

Europe New Zealand News

New Zealand increases training support for Ukraine

24/02/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1300 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

The New Zealand government has announced an extension to its support in training Ukrainian recruits and provided additional funding for

Personnel from 2 Squadron operate an aircraft de-icing machine to remove ice and snow from an E-7A Wedgetail during Operation Kudu in Germany. Story by Major Carrie Robards. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

Europe News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF Wedgetail at work on Ukraine-support mission

20/12/202320/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3999 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, no. 1 Combat Communication Squadron, No. 1 Security Forces Squadron., No. 2 Squadron, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

Night has fallen at Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany, and the temperature plummets towards freezing, but the cold weather

An Australian soldier deployed to the UK on Operation Kudu supervises the training of Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Zerbe.

ADF Europe News

Australia to expand Ukraine training operation

18/12/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1804 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

Australia will extend and expand its commitment to the training of recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part

A New Zealand soldier observes a Ukrainian Army training activity in England. Photo by (ADF) Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

Europe New Zealand News UK

NZDF soldiers hit Ukraine-training milestone

15/11/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1269 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine

New Zealand Defence Force personnel have overseen training for more than 2500 Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recruits in the

As part of Australia's continued support to Ukraine, a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail has been deployed to help protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance. Photo by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Europe News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie Wedgetail in Germany to support Ukraine

27/10/202330/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1604 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

A RAAF E-7A Wedgetail has deployed to Germany in support of multinational efforts helping to protect a vital gateway of

The Australian Imperial Force Mouquet Farm Memorial near the village of Pozières, France. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Europe History Lest We Forget

Mates first, then and now

30/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1181 Views 0 Comments 31st/42nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, France, Pozières, WWI

Private Wayne Drage’s voice wavered as he spoke about the day his great-great uncle was wounded during the battle of

The Brothers in Arms memorial to Privates James and John Hunter near Ypres, Belgium. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Europe History Lest We Forget

Soldiers retrace diggers’ footsteps

30/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1468 Views 0 Comments 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Battle of Polygon Wood, Belgium, WWI, Ypres

On the night he died in 1977, Jim Hunter called for his older brother Jack. CAPTION: The Brothers in Arms memorial

Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award ambassador Corporal Justin Wells picks a poppy beside the Le Hamel Australian Corps Memorial, France. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Europe Lest We Forget

On the spot of an heroic stand

29/08/202329/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1441 Views 0 Comments France, Victoria Cross, Villers-Bretonneux, WWI

Walking in the footsteps of a Victoria Cross (VC) recipient from World War I gave a Jonathan Church Good Soldiering

Australian Government-donated Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles bound for Ukraine at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, in April 2022. Photo by Corporal Jesse Kane.

Australian Army Europe News

30 more Bushmasters for Ukraine

12/07/202316/07/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1336 Views 3 Comments Ukraine

Australia will provide another 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine, expanding on our previous commitment of 90 Bushmasters. FILE

Australian Army Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles will be connected by the Army's new C$ EDGE systems. Photo by Trooper Jonathan Goedhart.

Australian Europe News Sovereign industry

Boxers built in Brisbane for export to Germany

11/07/202311/07/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2178 Views 7 Comments Boxer, Rheinmetall

The Albanese Government has agreed to a major defence export deal with Germany, signing an in-principle agreement for Australia to

A No. 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail aircraft soars through the clouds on a training sortie. Photo by Corporal Shannon McCarthy.

Europe News Royal Australian Air Force

Is Australia getting too close to Ukraine action with Wedgetail deployment?

11/07/202316/07/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3292 Views 29 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Ukraine

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail and about 100 aviators will be

Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hepworth (left) and Colonel Robin Smith (second from right) meet with French Army Lieutenant Colonel Matthias Leroy, supported by the Australian Army Liaison Officer to the French Army, Lieutenant Colonel Dean Kachab (right). Story by Emma Kennedy. Photo by Eloïse Marreau.

Australian Army Europe News Overseas

Aussies visit French robot testers

29/06/202303/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2124 Views 0 Comments France, Robotics

Australian Army personnel strengthened ties with the French Army during a visit to the Robotic Experimentation Platoon at the Centre

M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers. Photo by Corporal Steve Duncan.

Australian Army Europe News

“Banana Republic” pledges another $110million aid package to Ukraine

27/06/202327/06/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3631 Views 20 Comments Ukraine

Australia has pledged a new $110 million assistance package to Ukraine – including 70 military vehicles, 105mm artillery ammunition and

Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite lights a legacy torch during the launch of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay at Pozieres British Cemetery, France. Photo by Sergeant Oliver Carter.

ADF Europe News Veterans

Legacy torch sets off on six-month journey

02/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1355 Views 0 Comments Legacy

Legacy Centenary Torch Relay has begun in Pozières, France marking the start of a journey to celebrate 100 years since

Royal Australian Air Force aircraft conduct a flypast of the French Marine Nationale Frigate La Fayette. The flypast consisted of a No. 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon and two No. 75 Squadron F-35A Lightnings during a maritime strike and anti-submarine warfare training mission. French navy photo by Vincent Idrac-Virebent from the amphibious helicopter dock Dixmude.

Europe News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF aviators meet Jeanne d’Arc on round-the-world voyage

26/04/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1499 Views 0 Comments

An around-the-world journey by the Marine Nationale (French Navy) has allowed closer working ties to be forged with Royal Australian

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