News – Page 14 – CONTACT magazine

83 Squadron personnel form the number 83 in front of a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Boomerang at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Halley Van Essen.

83 years of intelligence, reconnaissance and security

09/04/202612/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 605 Views 0 Comments intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), No. 83 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh

As 83 Squadron marks its 83rd anniversary, the unit continues the same mission it began during the Second World War

Sapper Brodie Tarleton from 3 Troop School of Military Engineering at the Direct Fire Support Weapons range as part of initial employment training at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney. Story by Captain Aaron Pegram. Photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Australian Army News

Engineers learn skills at warfighters’ workshop

09/04/202609/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 504 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, Royal Australian Engineers

The forges have been running hot at Army’s School of Military Engineering at Holsworthy Barracks, where trade transfers and trainees

Seven heritage Air Force aircraft fly in formation. Story bu Squadron Leader Shaun Donnelly. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Stewart Gould.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Time flies when you’re having fun

09/04/202610/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 581 Views 1 Comment Military Working Dogs, No. 100 Squadron, No. 26 Squadron

RAAF drew strong crowds at the recent Warbirds Over Scone air show, bringing heritage aircraft, specialist teams and talented musicians

Australian ADF reservist Vincent Tran under arrest for fighting in Ukraine contrary to Defence regulations. Screengrab from official AFP video.

ADF Europe News

Army reservist charged with breaching Defence legislation after allegedly fighting in Ukraine

08/04/202608/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1339 Views 5 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine

An Australian Army reservist was scheduled to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on 7 April 2026, charged with breaching Defence legislation

Ben Roberts-Smith arrest at Sydney Airport. Supplied by AFP.

ADF People Australian Army News Veterans

Ben Roberts-Smith VC arrested

07/04/202607/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3669 Views 8 Comments Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG

The Australian Federal Police this morning arrested “a 47-year-old man” at Sydney Airport in relation to five counts of war

LAV-25s deploy M-257 smoke grenade systems during the final phase of the 2026 Bushmaster Challenge at competition at Camp Pendleton. US Marine Corps photo by Corporal Sawyer Carleton.

New Zealand News

KIWIs shine in US LAV comp

06/04/202606/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 700 Views 0 Comments

A Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) crew from 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1RNZIR) recently awarded top overall crew at

Members of Australia's Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare to fly into Oruzgan's Baluchi Valley and Chora regions in support of an MTF1 mission, in 2010. Photo by Lieutenant Aaron Oldaker.

Australian Army Middle East News

Has Australia sent SAS to Middle East?

03/04/202603/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1339 Views 0 Comments

Media reports suggest that Australia has already sent SAS members to the Middle East – speculation Defence Minister Richard Marles

The ship's company of HMAS Canberra lines the upper decks, followed by JS Kumano, FNS Auguste Benebig, HMAS Brisbane and Guardian-class Patrol Boat HMPNGS Francis Agwi as they sail past Bradley's Head for the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

News Royal Australian Navy

Kakadu makes history in the harbour

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 863 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu

Vessels from 19 nations sailed into Sydney Harbour on March 21 for the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review (KFR), commemorating 125

Able Seaman Chloe Lampasona fires the M2HB-QCB at an aerial target on the upper decks of HMAS Toowoomba in the Philippine Sea during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

News Royal Australian Navy

A weapon that’s old but gold

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 922 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba

For all the focus on next‑generation weapons like hypersonic missiles, lasers and drones, the reality is that security often comes

From left, Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh and the HMAS Sydney Association treasurer stand in front of the Bradleys Head Naval Memorial in Sydney, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Memorial’s enduring significance recognised

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 807 Views 0 Comments

In a ceremony at Bradleys Head in Sydney, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh and Commander Australian Fleet

Lieutenant Matthew Jennings conducts anti-submarine warfare exercises with Leading Seaman Lachlan Wyatt aboard HMAS Toowoomba as part of Exercise Nichi Gou Trident. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Submarine hunters unite

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 2218 Views 0 Comments Exercise Nichi Gou Trident (NGT), HMAS Toowoomba, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Submarine

If you think ‘finding a needle in a haystack’ is the best idiom to describe the impossible, then you’ve never

HMAS Warramunga’s embarked MH-60R launches decoy flares during a flying exercise at sea. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Keigan Gunther. Photos by Leading Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

News Royal Australian Navy

Deployment strengthens regional ties

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 656 Views 1 Comment HMAS Warramunga, Regional Presence Deployment

Cutting across the Top End’s tropical waters, HMAS Warramunga has sailed into HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin after successfully completing its regional presence deployment (RPD)

Finalists in the Royal Australian Navy's 2026 Sailor of the Year, including winner Leading Seaman Jesse Nicholson (third from right), at the Australian War Memorial. Story by Lieutenant Jonathan Wills. Photos by Kris Kerehona.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Navy’s 2026 Sailor of the Year recognised

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 669 Views 0 Comments AWM, Chief of Navy, Sailor of the Year

In a ceremony at HMAS Kuttabul on March 6, Leading Seaman Jesse Nicholson was announced as the Royal Australian Navy’s 2026 Sailor

A member of the maintenance crew directs a RAAF P-8A Poseidon post-flight on the apron, at United States Air Force Andersen Air Base, Guam, during Exercise Sea Dragon. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jody Blakeley. Photo by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Enhancing Poseidon lethality and readiness

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 2155 Views 0 Comments Andersen AFB, Exercise Sea Dragon, No. 12 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, US Navy

In the deep waters near Guam, RAAF deployed a P-8A Poseidon and 50 aviators to Andersen Air Force Base for

An Australian Army AH-64E Apache from the 1st Aviation Regiment, flies at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, 27 November 2025. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

Australian News Sovereign industry

NIOA sets sights on Apache ammo supply

01/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 757 Views 0 Comments AH-64E Apache, NIOA

Australian weapons and munitions prime NIOA and US aerospace and defence company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) have

An Australian Army soldier signals 'all clear' to launch a drone using first-person-view goggles during the Modify and Operate Attack Drone (FPV) course at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Story by Major Martin Hadley. Photos by Sergeant Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Army accelerates drone training

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 994 Views 0 Comments 2RAR, 5/7 RAR, Armed Forces of Ukraine, drones, first-person view drones (FPVD), Operation Kudu, Puckapunyal, Royal Australian Regiment

Perched atop the rugged hillside and camouflaged in hides, teams operate their drones, sweeping for targets among the close terrain,

A new milestone project will focus on turning operational waste into usable power. Story by Carolyn Bishop.

ADF Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Defence project powers waste-to-energy innovation

27/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 663 Views 0 Comments ADSUN

A new multi-state research collaboration is advancing innovative waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions to support Defence operations across northern Australia. CAPTION: A

Journalists from Polynesia and Micronesia, along with staff from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, stand on the helipad of ADV Reliant at Garden Island, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photos by Able Seaman Taylor Johnson.

News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Developing Reliant friendships

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 535 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, HMAS Kuttabul

A group of journalists from across Micronesia and Polynesia visited HMAS Kuttabul, Sydney, in March for a bespoke tour of the

A 100 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire MK VIII aircraft (058-602) takes off at Warbirds Over Scone 2024. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photo by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Flying the past to see the future

27/03/202628/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 642 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron

An air force that fixes its gaze only on the future does not see more clearly, but closes one eye

The Tunnel display at the More, Together Awards and Summit Awards at a previous Australian Defence Science Technology and Research Summit. Story by Rachelle Todd. Photo by Navin Chandra.

ADF Australian Army Cyber MRF-D News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Space Division

ADSTAR summit to focus on accelerating capability

27/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 539 Views 0 Comments

Leading researchers, industry partners and defence specialists are preparing for the 2026 Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research (ADSTAR) Summit.