News – Page 16 – CONTACT magazine

Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Vietnam People's Navy, Royal Thai Navy, Philippine Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Indian Navy attend an Exercise Kakadu harbour brief at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin, NT. Story by Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Williamson. Photo by Seaman Genae Kelly.

Six navies align for Exercise Kakadu

18/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 547 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Choules, HMAS Coonawarra

The command teams of warships from six nations came together at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin, for the first harbour briefings in support

School of Military Engineering Senior Instructor Warrant Officer 2 Ross Meehan of the British Army during the explosives supervisor course at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Corporal Hamid Farahani.

Australian Army News

An explosive exchange at Holsworthy

18/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 772 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, School of Military Engineering

Hearing a British accent take charge of an Australian range is not something many diggers would be familiar with, but

A simulated IED detonates at an Australian training facility in the Middle East. Photo by Petty Officer Phil Cullinan.

ADF Middle East News

Australia’s base in Middle East hit

18/03/202618/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 998 Views 0 Comments

On the morning of 18 March 2026 (AEDT), an Iranian strike impacted an area at the Al Minhad Air Base

Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force air movements personnel unload cargo from a RNZAF C-130J-30 Hercules at RAAF Base Richmond during Exercise Trojan Compass. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoan Mikaela Fernlund.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Air Force

NZ Herc embeds in RAAF squadron

17/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 509 Views 0 Comments

For the first time, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J Hercules has been flying under an Australian call

News Veterans

More funding for free veteran advocates

15/03/202615/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2142 Views 0 Comments

The government says it has more than doubled funding to enable veterans to better access free advocacy services when lodging

An Army protective mobility vehicle departs a light landing craft for a beach landing during Exercise Wader. Story by Captain Karam Louli. Photo by Able Seaman Jaxsen Shinners.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

Amphibious force storms Queensland beach

13/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1054 Views 0 Comments AAF, Exercise Wader, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Choules

More than 1000 soldiers, sailors and aviators aboard HMA Ships Canberra and Choules participated in Exercise Wader last month, to validate the ADF’s

Aerial imagery of Henderson, Western Australia. Story by Meggan Pigram. Photo by Ventia.

ADF News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Design contract let for Henderson Defence Precinct

13/03/202615/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1393 Views 3 Comments

The delivery of the Henderson Defence Precinct has taken a significant step forward with the design services consultancy contract awarded

An aviator from 100 Squadron flies a Tiger Moth heritage aircraft. Story by Flying Officer Rose Gigliotti. Photo by Duncan Fenn.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Heritage flight warms up for show season

13/03/202615/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 829 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, RAAF Point Cook

The sight and sound of heritage aircraft over RAAF Base Point Cook is more than a nostalgic reminder of Air

Australia has deployed a Wedgetail to the Gulf. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Stewart Gould.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Australia deploys Wedgetail to Gulf

13/03/202613/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 606 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Gulf War, Middle East Region

At the request of the Gulf nations, Australia has deployed an E-7A Wedgetail to the Gulf to help protect and

The image used on the front cover of the ANZAC Strike Wing book by John Quaife. Story by Flying Officer Casie Scott.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

ANZAC Strike Wing’s daring hunt remembered

13/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 825 Views 0 Comments WWII

Flying at wave-top height in all weather and under heavy fire, the crews of 455 (RAAF) Squadron and 489 (RNZAF)

A soldier from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment aligns the transmitter from the Enhanced Personal Area Network during a live integrated systems display at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris. Photos by Lance Corporal Jessica Gray.

Australian Army News Science & Technology Sovereign industry

New system sharpens training realism

13/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 826 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Enhanced Personal Area Network (EPAN), Exercise Keldie Cup

A new system that allows soldiers and vehicles to simulate hits, casualties and damage during training was used on Exercise

From left, Royal Australian Air Force airborne electronics analysts Corporals Keean Ferguson, Andrew Newton and Joel Letham, of 11 Squadron, in front of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photo by Aircraftman Ivan Smotrov.

ADF People News Royal Australian Air Force

Aircraft fly fast, but information moves faster

13/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 844 Views 0 Comments intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), No. 11 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Edinburgh

Aircraft fly fast, but information moves faster, as airborne electronic analysts turn signals into decisions. CAPTION: From left, Royal Australian

HMAS Canberra personnel attend to a simulated casualty during a crash-on-deck exercise while transiting off the coast of Queensland ahead of Exercise Sea Wader. Story by Captain Karam Louli. Photo by Able Seaman Jaxsen Shinners.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Training turns pressure into precision

13/03/202613/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 760 Views 0 Comments Australian Amphibious Force (AAF), Exercise Sea Wader, HMAS Canberra, Medical Operational Health Unit (MOHU)

Rotor wash tears across the flight deck as a helicopter settles into position. CAPTION: HMAS Canberra personnel attend to a

Colonel Judd Finger, left, Captain Bernadette Alexander and Wing Commander Rowan Paice, lay wreaths and tributes during the USS Peary commemorative service in Darwin, NT. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photos: byPetty Officer Leo Baumgartner.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Anniversary of the bombing of Darwin remembered

13/03/202613/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 847 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cape Solander, HMAS Coonawarra, US Marines

Personnel from HMAS Coonawarra attended the commemorations marking the 84th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin, a day where more bombs were

New Zealand’s Brigadier Esther Harrop and Australia’s Lieutenant General Susan Coyle sign the memorandum to boost the two countries’ collaboration in the cyber domain. Story byLieutenant Colonel Andrew Butler.

Australian Army Cyber New Zealand News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Cyber partnership strengthens across Tasman

11/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 687 Views 0 Comments Cyber Defence

A major step forward in trans-Tasman cyber cooperation was taken at the Five Eyes Defence Cyber Contact Group Conference in

The newly installed headstone honouring Captain John King Davis at Melbourne General Cemetery. Story by Petty Officer Peyton Carey.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

Honouring an Antarctic pioneer

11/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 672 Views 0 Comments

For half a century, Captain John King Davis has lain in an unmarked grave at Melbourne General Cemetery, a stark

One of Army's new Quantum Systems Vector AI uncrewed aerial systems in flight. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photos by Private Sera Mar

Australian Army News

New drones put bombardiers on improved trajectory

11/03/202611/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1011 Views 0 Comments 20th Regiment, Puckapunyal, School of Artillery, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

Two new small uncrewed aerial system (UAS) drones impressed artillery personnel during their first introduction into service courses at Puckapunyal

An E-7A Wedgetail takes off from Australia's main logistics base in the Middle East. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Australia gets involved in Middle East crisis

10/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1173 Views 0 Comments

The Australian government very quickly threw its support behind the Israeli and US attacks on Iran on 28 February and

Deputy Chief of Army Major General Chris Smith addresses the Chief of Army's History Conference 2025. Video screenshot.

Australian Army News

DCA slams abstract, jargon-heavy language as a killer

07/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1828 Views 3 Comments

Addressing last year’s Chief of Army’s History Conference, Deputy Chief of Army Major General Chris Smith delivered a remarkable and

NZ Army Troops deploy to South Korea via C-130J from RNZAF Base Ohakea. RNZDF photo.

New Zealand News

Kiwis deploy to South Korea

07/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 835 Views 0 Comments

For the second year running, a New Zealand Army infantry platoon has deployed to the Republic of Korea to train