News – Page 12 – CONTACT magazine

Able Seaman Isabella Anderson and Lieutenant Craig Grant on board the Japanese Ship Kumano, during a port visit to Melbourne. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photos by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

Aussies learn the lay of the land at sea

01/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1115 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) members have been forging connections at sea on board the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment explosively breach a doorway during the Basic Assault Pioneers Course.Story by Captain Andrew Page. Photo by Lance Corporal Andrews.

Australian Army News

Regiment restores assault pioneer capability

29/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1097 Views 2 Comments 1RAR

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), have reintroduced the ‘assault pioneer’ capability through a course to restore

3 Squadron personnel, who raised funds in this year’s March On, in front of a 3 Squadron F-35A Lightning II aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW. Story by Evana Ho. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Elise Ross.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Marching On for mental health

29/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 814 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, March On, mental health, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, Soldier On

Across March, members from 3 Squadron balanced running the Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) with putting in the hard yards

Second Lieutenant Duncan McKenzie has been identified a century after World War I.

ADF People Australian Army Europe History Lest We Forget News

Unknown no more: two WWI soldiers identified

29/04/202603/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1109 Views 0 Comments Battle of Fromelles, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Passchendaele, Third Battle of Ypres, WWI

More than a century after they were killed in action in World War I, the remains of two missing Australian

Royal Australian Navy Able Seaman Kieran Nieves plays the didgeridoo at the Anzac Cove dawn service on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Türkiye. Story by Flying Officer Freya Hansen. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Anzac Day commemorated at Gallipoli

29/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 2312 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, Turkey

As the sun rose on another Anzac Day at Anzac Cove, Türkiye, the members of Australia’s Federation Guard and the

Satellite communication equipment setup by Australian soldiers from 1st Signal Regiment for Exercise Mercury Run at Kokoda Barracks, Canungra. Story by Captain Nigel Jacobs. Photos by Gunner Jesse Linards.

Australian Army News

The communications backbone of the battlespace

29/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 884 Views 0 Comments 1st Signal Regiment, Exercise Mercury Run, Kokoda Barracks

Army signals personnel deployed across the country for Exercise Mercury Run to prepare 1st (Australian) Division for the year’s major

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.

Asia Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

A true Anzac field service in the Philippines

29/04/202629/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 764 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 792 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

RAAF and United States Air Force personnel at Nellis Air Force Base during a synthetic training exercise.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Virtual training builds modern fighting capacity

29/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 622 Views 0 Comments simulation facility, USAF

On a synthetic training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and United States Air Force

A Bushmaster makes a beach landing during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

Hundreds of new Bushmasters ordered

27/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1348 Views 4 Comments Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, Hawkei

The government is investing $750 million to deliver a pipeline of Bushmasters for the Australian Defence Force’s fleet of protected

News Veterans

Gina Rinehart commits $200 million to veteran homelessness

24/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3911 Views 1 Comment

In a move to recognise a national crisis and national disgrace, Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting is contributing $200 million to buy

Australian Army soldier Corporal Justin MacLennan watches Steve Nasui, of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Organisation, deploy a drone as part of Exercise Coastwatchers in the Solomon Islands. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Coastwatchers legacy levels up

22/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 689 Views 0 Comments drones, Exercise Coastwatchers, Solomon Islands

Exercise Coastwatchers has ramped up training between the Australian Army and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), with the addition

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defense Minister for Japan Koizumi Shinjiro hold a press conference on board JS Kumano after signing the Mogami Memorandum. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

News Royal Australian Navy

Contracts for future frigates signed

22/04/202626/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 976 Views 1 Comment Chief of Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Minister for Defence

On Saturday April 18, Australia and Japan took a significant step in deepening their strategic defence partnership, by finalising contracts

Warrant Officer Jonathan West talks with a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sailor on board JS Kumano as the ship transits to the Port of Brisbane. Story by Lieutenant Michael Wilson. Photos: byLeading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

News Royal Australian Navy

First-hand look at Japanese frigate operations

22/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 849 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel recently gained first-hand exposure to Japan’s Mogami-class frigate and a clear view of the advanced

Australia’s Federation Guard alongside the Royal Australian Navy Band visits memorial sights from the Western Front in France prior to partaking in Anzac Day 2025 dawn services. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

French town where war dead are not forgotten

22/04/202622/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 789 Views 0 Comments

In the farming country of northern France, a small town carries a quiet Australian accent. CAPTION: Australia’s Federation Guard alongside

The first Australian-manufactured guided multiple launch rocket system missiles are test fired at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Andrew Green.

Australian Army News Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Aussie engineers fire fruit of their labour

22/04/202626/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 783 Views 0 Comments GMLRS, Lockheed Martin Australia, Woomera Test Range

Ahead of the first firing of Australian-made long-range strike missiles, Australian engineers at the Port Wakefield manufacturing facility have been

Solomon Islands airport staff unload Australian aid from a 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan at Munda International Airport following Tropical Cyclone Maila. Story by Flight Sergeant Mark Eaton. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

ADF supports Solomon Islands after Cyclone Maila

22/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 634 Views 0 Comments 35 Squadron, C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan, cyclone, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, No. 36 Squadron, Solomon Islands

The Australian Defence Force has rapidly mobilised to support Solomon Islands communities following the devastating impact of severe Tropical Cyclone

ADF personnel from 12 Squadron and 5th Aviation Regiment stand for a group photo during the historical call sign handover ceremony at RAAF Base Townsville. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Halley Van essen.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

Buffalo is back

17/04/202617/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 977 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, No. 12 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Edinburgh, RAAF Townsville, WWII

More than 80 years after its formation, the Buffalo call sign has returned home to 12 Squadron at RAAF Base

HMAS Warramunga opens up to the public during the PortFest open day in Albany, WA. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Keigan Gunther. Photos by Leading Seaman Shaun Chatfield.

News Royal Australian Navy

Navy ship adds weight to celebrations

17/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 887 Views 0 Comments HMAS Warramunga, Open Day

Thousands of locals flocked to see HMAS Warramunga at Albany’s PortFest open day, marking the Port of Albany’s 200-year contribution to Western

Corporal Nathan Scott, an aviation operations specialist with the 5th Aviation Regiment, conducts communications checks as part of Exercise Helicon Luk 2025 in Papua New Guinea. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Corporal Dana Millington.

ADF People Australian Army News

The team that supports Army’s aircrews

17/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 651 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, Exercise Helicon Luk

According to the ADF’s recruitment portal, the key responsibility of an aviation operations specialist (AOS) is to “provide communications and