News – Page 7 – CONTACT magazine

An EC-135 taxis on the flight line at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales. Story by Sub Lieutenant Dishant Shah. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin.

723 Squadron celebrates flying milestone

04/03/202604/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 429 Views 0 Comments EC-135, HMAS Albatross, No. 723 Squadron

At HMAS Albatross in Nowra, 723 Squadron has soared past a remarkable aviation milestone, recording an impressive 50,000 flying hours on the

Army physical training instructors showcase new uniforms for warm-weather climates. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Army PTIs drop the red daks

27/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 900 Views 0 Comments PTIs

The familiar scene of a red and white tracksuit-clad figure running the boots off a platoon of soldiers has changed

Army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Pipes and Drums gather with Korean War veterans Barrie Divine, centre left, and Robert Hay, centre, during a community activity supporting Exercise Itchy Fingers. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Private Lachlan Craig.

Australian Army History News

Turning it up to 11 for our veterans

27/02/202627/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 379 Views 0 Comments 3rd Battalion RAR, 8th/9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Gallipoli Barracks

Sitting in Lang Park, watching the cream of the pipe and drums crop skirl their way around the grounds, Private

Sapper Ian Moss and former explosive detection dog Florence 'Flo Joe'. Story by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News

Dog awarded for military service in Afghanistan

26/02/202626/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 631 Views 0 Comments Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, Explosive Detection Dogs

Explosive detection dog Florence, or ‘Flo Joe’ as she was affectionately known, was honoured at the Australian War Memorial on

Delegates from the Initial Flight Training Course 4 at RAAF Base Point Cook. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Auciello.

Australian Army History News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

New pilot-training pilot program

26/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 725 Views 0 Comments nitial Flying Training (IFT), RAAF Point Cook

Air Force Training Group has launched an innovative pilot training trial at RAAF Base Point Cook, partnering with RMIT University

From left, Royal Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Fred Hunter, Royal Australian Air Force Pilot Officer Ed and United States Air Force pilot Captain Brendan Crouse with a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4. Story by Squadron Leader Tina Turner. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Nell Bradbury.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Sharpening aviator skills in US desert

26/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 540 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bamboo Eagle, Exercise Red Flag, No. 75 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) aviators recently sharpened their air combat skills at two premier air training exercises out of

ADF News Veterans

New fight over medicinal cannabis

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1904 Views 2 Comments

This week, CONTACT received a well-worded and seemingly legitimate plea for action in defiance of a new DVA ruling on

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 News

RSL unhappy with ‘war crimes’ injustice

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 700 Views 2 Comments

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says the delay in resolving findings of unlawful killings by Australian Special

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart at Henderson shipyard, Western Australia, after the contract signing ceremony for the eight landing craft heavy vessels. Story by Major Peter Nugent. Photos by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

New landing craft heavy for Army

25/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 912 Views 3 Comments Chief of Army, Henderson WA, Landing Craft Heavy, National Defence Strategy (NDS)

Army’s ability to fight and win in the littoral is one step closer with the signing of a $4 billion agreement

The Astute-class submarine HMS Anson arrives at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia for a scheduled submarine maintenance period. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Thomas Clarke-Kelly.

AUKUS News Royal Australian Navy

First UK nuclear submarine maintenance in Australia

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 866 Views 0 Comments ASC, AUKUS, HMAS Stirling, Royal Navy

Australia reached another milestone towards operating its own conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines, with the arrival of HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia

ADFA trainee officers during the Chief of the Defence Force Parade in Canberra. Story by Hannah Donald. Photos by Rodney Braithwaite.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Parade to mark first 5 weeks at ADFA

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 449 Views 0 Comments ADFA, Chief of Defence Force

For four decades, the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) has shaped Defence leaders. CAPTION: ADFA trainee officers during the Chief

Philippines Naval Vessel BRP Diego Silang follows HMAS Toowoomba while they conduct officer of the watch manoeuvres during a maritime cooperative activity off the west coast of Luzon. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Australians and US sail with Philippine forces

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 409 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, Philippine Navy, US Navy

It was a day of poise, professionalism, and precision as three partner nations sailed and flew in formation off the

Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II take off from Nellis Air Force Base, United States, during Exercise Red Flag 26-1. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Bamboo Eagle – testing the battlespace ‘nervous system’

21/02/202621/02/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 725 Views 0 Comments

Exercise Bamboo Eagle 26-1, designed to test the ‘nervous system’ of joint and coalition AirPower took place in the USA

Australia's 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment Sapper Shonee Gelhaar and EDD Ash, who is indicating the presence of a target odour, is assisted by New Zealand Army's Lance Corporal Conor Woods. NZDF photo.

Australian Army New Zealand News

Aussie EDDs experience unique Kiwi test

21/02/202621/02/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 564 Views 0 Comments

In a significant first, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has taken the lead in organising and delivering a groundbreaking

The Pipes and Drums Band of the 2026 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performs at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Story by Lieutenant Michael Wilson. Photos by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Tattoo brings pageantry to Brisbane

20/02/202620/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 438 Views 0 Comments oyal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Under rainy Brisbane skies, the Australian Defence Force helped bring the world‑famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to Suncorp Stadium for

Official portrait of Papua New Guinea Defence Force officer and Deputy Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Colonel Boniface Aruma. Photo by Captain Andrew Page. Corporal Guy Sadler.

ADF People Australian Army

The importance of leading by example

20/02/202620/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 503 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, PNGDF

As the 3rd Brigade sharpens its focus on warfighting readiness, its deputy commander is equally focused on something less visible

The Defence Science and Technology Group leads a comprehensive program to explore, test and develop safer, higher performance battery technologies for Australia’s Defence platforms and systems. Story by Ilana Pender-Rose.

AUKUS Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Safer, stronger batteries power Australia’s defence

20/02/202620/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 383 Views 0 Comments DSTG

As Australia moves toward more advanced and self‑reliant defence capabilities, the energy systems that power Defence platforms and systems have

Hawker Hunter Trophy awardee Flight Lieutenant Sam Nery with fellow graduates of the Empire Test Pilots' School in Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Story by Captain Edward Pym. Photo by Wing Commander Wayne Baylis.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force UK

Aussies come up aces in UK flight testing

18/02/202618/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 504 Views 0 Comments

Competitively drawn from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), four ADF officers graduated from the Empire

From left, Air Refuelling Officers Technical Sergeant Robert Kniveton from the United States Air Force, Flying Officer Rudolph Liebenberg from the Royal Australian Air Force and Captain Matthew MacMillan from the Royal Canadian Air Force stand in front of a RAAF KC-30A at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Natasha Silver. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Building global air mobility

18/02/202618/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 535 Views 0 Comments air-to-air refuelling, KC-30A MRTT, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, Royal Canadian Air Force, US Air Force

Three nations. One team. One mission. CAPTION: From left, Air Refuelling Officers Technical Sergeant Robert Kniveton from the United States

Royal Australian Air Force Aircraft Technician, Leading Aircraftman Rory Kerr, stands in front of an F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Exercise Red Flag 26-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, United States. Story by Squadron Leader Tina Turner. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Mission-ready for Exercise Red Flag Nellis

18/02/202618/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 496 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II, No. 75 Squadron, Red Flag

While fighter jets roar overhead and complex air battles unfold across the Nevada desert, much of the success of Exercise