News – Page 56 – CONTACT magazine

Air surveillance operator Corporal Mikayla Dows, of 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit, monitors the air space inside the Mobile Control Reporting Centre during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.

Bandicoot spells end for Mobile Control and Reporting Centre

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2806 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, No. 114MRCU

Tucked away behind dimly lit screens are the faces of air battle managers and air surveillance operators illuminated by battlespace

Royal Thai Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Toranin Metananta departs RAAF Base Darwin for a sortie in a JAS-39 Gripen C during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RTAF celebrate 20 years at Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3478 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Darwin, Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is celebrating two decades of participation in Exercise Pitch Black, one of the world’s

An Italian Navy F-35B Lightning II prepares to land on ITS Cavour while underway at sea during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Cavour makes waves at Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 4524 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Italian Navy

The Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour sailed through week two at Exercise Pitch Black 24, intent on enhancing interchangeability with

News Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force officially unveils first MQ-4C Triton

01/08/202401/08/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2931 Views 0 Comments MC-4C Triton

Representatives of the Australian government, the Royal Australian Air Force and Northrop Grumman officially unveiled the RAAF’s first MQ-4C Triton

US Navy and Royal Australian Navy graduates from the US Navay's Basic Enlisted Submarine School, aboard the US Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. US Navy photo by Lauren Laughlin.

News Royal Australian Navy USA

First Australian sailors graduate from USN Basic Enlisted Submarine School

31/07/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2852 Views 0 Comments AUKUS

In a first for AUKUS, a group of Royal Australian Navy enlisted sailors has graduated from the United States Navy’s

Able Seaman Clint Selwood handles lines on HMAS Choules’ embarked light landing craft in Suva, Fiji, as part of a south-west Pacific regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Marie Davies. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Bridging the gap between ship and shore

31/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2496 Views 0 Comments Amphibious Watercraft Squadron, Choules, HMAS Waterhen, Light Landing Craft (LLC)

Imagine being anchored off a beautiful Pacific island without wharf access, needing to transport hundreds of people, equipment and stores,

Staff Sergeant Ian McLain from the United States Air Force monitors the E-7A Wedgetail from 2 Squadron before its next mission during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

AU UK US perspective on commanding the battlespace

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3092 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black, No. 2 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Scanning the skies as part of Exercise Pitch Black is nothing new to 2 Squadron but, for this year’s activity,

Soldiers from 5th Aviation Regiment present a safety brief to Townsville Hospital Foundation charity 'Brighter Lives' recipients on the Army-leased AW139 helicopter. Story by Captain Tadek Markowski. Photos by Gunner Ryan Kearney.

Australian Army News

Townsville University Hospital patients’ lifted by Army helicopter flight

31/07/202406/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1902 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, Leonardo AW139 helicopter, Operation Care Bear, Townsville

“I never thought two broken arms would get me this far,” Liam said. CAPTION: Soldiers from 5th Aviation Regiment present a

Australian Army soldiers practice offloading from a United States Army Reserve CH-47 Chinook in preparation for an insertion into the Field Training Exercise during Exercise Keris Strike in Sabah, Malaysia. Story and photo by Lieutenant Chloe Reay.

Australian Army News Overseas

Choppers gives bombardier a lift

31/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2997 Views 0 Comments 8th/12th Regiment RAA, Exercise Keris Strike, Malaysian Armed Forces

Just outside of Kota Belud in Sabah, Malaysia, three nations gather under the banner of Exercise Keris Strike 2024. CAPTION:

Sapper Jack Henderson, from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, throws wood on a pile for the Garma Festival during Exercise Predator's Run in Nhulunbuy, NT. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army News

Predators Run into Nhulunbuy for week of activities

31/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1725 Views 0 Comments 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Predator’s Run

For the parents and children at the Nhulunbuy Aquatic Centre, the chance to beat the soldiers in a match of

The last M1A1 Abrams main battle tank rolled out of Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. The new Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tanks will be introduced later this year. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army News

Brisbane’s last tank rolls out of Gallipoli Barracks

31/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3057 Views 0 Comments 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry), 7th Brigade, Defence Strategic Review, Gallipoli Barracks, M1A1 Abrams, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

The last M1A1 Abrams main battle tank rolled out of Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, as Army continues its implementation of the

Corporal Monique Jeynes and Corporal Amanda Wintle on the ramp of a RAAF C-27J Spartan prepare to airdrop supplies over the Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, as part of the Defence Pacific Air Program.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Resupply on the Kokoda Track right on target

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3194 Views 0 Comments 35 Squadron, C-27J Spartan, Defence Pacific Air Program (DPAP), Kokoda Track, PNG

Though target practice is usually the preserve of Air Force’s fast jet squadrons, for members of 35 Squadron a recent

A RAAF FA-18F Super Hornet aircraft departs RAAF Base Darwin for a night flying mission as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2024. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Back-seat bandits on Exercise Pitch Black

30/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2195 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, F/A-18F Super Hornet, RAAF Darwin

As Exercise Pitch Black continues to play out in the Northern Territory and all eyes look towards the sky, the

HMAS Choules personnel participate in a humanitarian and disaster relief training exercise on board the ship during a south-west Pacific regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Leesa Maroske. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Choules training for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions

30/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2709 Views 0 Comments HADR, HMAS Choules, Regional Presence Deployment

A recent humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) training exercise demonstrated HMAS Choules‘ readiness to respond to crises at home and

Collins-class submarines HMA Ships Collins, Farncomb, Dechaineux and Sheean in formation while transiting through Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photo by Lieutenant Chris Prescott.

News Royal Australian Navy

$2.2billion Collins-class sustainment contract awarded

29/07/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2235 Views 0 Comments Collins-class submarines

The government has signed a new four-year sustainment contract with ASC Pty Ltd for the sustainment of the Collins-class submarines.

The Pacific Skies 24 contingent from France, Germany and Spain at RAAF Base Darwin to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

European unity under southern skies

26/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2557 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Pacific Skies 24, RAAF Darwin

Multiple European aircraft from France, Germany and Spain have touched down in Darwin for Pacific Skies 24. CAPTION: The Pacific Skies

Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Aircraft Engineer Joshua Magun, of Air Transport Wing, inspects a PNGDF PAC P-750XL prior to a sortie during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

New ground for PNG forces

26/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3180 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, PNGDF

From the rugged and jungle-covered mountains of Papua New Guinea to the flat and arid terrain of northern Australia, Pacific

Deputy Chief of Army Major General Christopher Smith, left, presents Warrant Officer Class 1 Rodney Speter with his two Federation Stars for 45 years of service. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Andrew Hetherington.

ADF People Australian Army

Still serving after 45 years

26/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2316 Views 0 Comments

It is not every day a soldier receives a Federation Star for 40-plus years’ service, but last month, 65-year-old Warrant

A RAAF KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) pilot's view of a French Airbus A330 MRTT as they attempt to connect for air-to-air refuelling during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF’s petrol station of the skies

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2759 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

While cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet, sitting in a comfortable over-wing seat of a modified Airbus A330, you

Two new resources will help leaders address personnel issues arising from psychosocial hazards in the workplace. Story by John Noble. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF homes in on psychosocial hazards

25/07/202402/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2016 Views 0 Comments Directorate of Mental Health and Wellbeing – Air Force (MH&W-AF), Human Performance and Safety (HPS)

The Royal Australian Air Force has introduced a suite of products to help commanders and team leaders support the mental