Science & Technology – CONTACT magazine

An in-service GO12 radar (left – Defence photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris) and a GO80 (Thales photo), similar to one trialled on Exercise Colt, near Exmouth, WA.

Army trials long-range portable radar

25/08/202625/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 137 Views 0 Comments

A new long-range radar system capable of detecting threats out to 80km has been trialled alongside Army’s in-service Ground Observer

Private Malakai Williams from Direct Fire Support Weapons Platoon, 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, fires a Carl-Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle near a Supacat Vehicle during Exercise Predator’s Walk at Mount Bundey Training Area, Northern Territory, 29 May 2026. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Mitigating brain injury from blasts

19/08/202619/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 521 Views 0 Comments

Repeated low-level blast overpressure exposure in training is recognised as a workplace hazard – and Defence is implementing new measures to

Australian Army personnel from the 1st Armoured Regiment trial advanced manufacturing during Exercise Black Prince 3, operating from a heavy stores module converted to a deployable advanced manufacturing shelter, at Cultana Training Area, South Australia. Photo by Michael Guo.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

1 Armd Regt’s experimental repair shop

12/08/202612/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3743 Views 1 Comment 1 Armd Regt, 1st Armoured Regiment

A small drone with a broken wing is retrieved from scrubland at Cultana and taken to a converted stores module

JabX autonomous aircraft on the tarmac at Archerfield, Queensland, before a Project Camel Train test flight. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.

News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology Sovereign industry

First flight for autonomous logistics aircraft

10/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 675 Views 0 Comments JabX

RAAF’s Jericho Disruptive Innovation (JDI) team, in partnership with Brisbane-based RF Design, has completed the first long-range mission of an

An Australian Army Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle drives over a Dry Support Bridge during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Australian Army’s battle management system goes Danish

25/07/202626/07/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 610 Views 0 Comments

Danish company Systematic’s SitaWare Headquarters has been selected for the first tranche of the Australian Army’s next-generation Battle Management System

The flying launch and recovery system (FLARES) carries an Integrator UAV to launch altitude during a vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) capability display at Jervis Bay Airfield. Photo by Leading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

New long-range drone takes off for Navy

23/07/202623/07/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1237 Views 1 Comment

Royal Australian Navy’s 822X Squadron has flown the A-61 Integrator tactical uncrewed aerial system for the first time, marking a

Sergeant Bradlee Ledger, Lieutenant Odette Swaine and Flight Lieutenant Saurav Kataria during a demonstration of the air delivery drone known as Aladdin at RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photo by Flight Sergeant Rob Hack.

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

Cargo drone launched from C-130

10/07/202612/07/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 574 Views 0 Comments aladdin, drone, Exercise Jericho Dawn, RAAF Edinburgh

The successful launch of an air delivery drone, known as Aladdin, from a C-130J Hercules has demonstrated how emerging technologies

Corporals Jacob Sofia and Harrison Hinson, of 2nd Cavalry Regiment, with the Quantum Vector drone during Exercise Southern Jackaroo at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story by Sergeant Matt Bickerton. Photo by Ian Hitchcock.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

New drone uses AI on Southern Jackaroo

09/07/202609/07/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 663 Views 1 Comment 2nd Cavalry Regiment, drone, Exercise Southern Jackaroo, fixed‑wing reconnaissance drones, Townsville Field Training Area, Vector AI

One of Army’s newest fixed‑wing reconnaissance drones took flight on Exercise Southern Jackaroo, identifying targets in depth and enabling drone

New (right) air-traffic control tower construction at RAAF Base Darwin, adjacent to the old tower (left), which will eventually be demolished. Photo by Sergeant Ben Dempster.

ADF News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology

OneSKY mega-delay remains ‘a concern’

12/06/202612/06/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 706 Views 0 Comments

Defence convened a Project of Concern Summit in Canberra this week to discuss the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System

One of the first Australian-built AS9 Huntsman systems fires during live-fire serials at Puckapunyal Training Area during Army’s inaugural AS9 operator course. Story by Trent Pollard. Photos by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army News Science & Technology Videos

Huntsman’s first shots in Puckapunyal

04/06/202607/06/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 894 Views 0 Comments 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, AS9 Huntsman, Puckapunyal, School of Artillery

When the first Australian-made AS9 Huntsman fired on its distant target, you’d have been forgiven for mistaking it for cracks

Deputy Director Disruptive Experimentation Wing Commander Keirin Joyce with a JabX, an uncrewed aerial system developed by RFDesign and Jericho Disruptive Innovation. Story by Flight Lieutenant Natasha Silver.

News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology

RAAF developing unmanned air logistics

06/05/202609/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 957 Views 0 Comments Jericho Disruptive Innovation (JDI), Project Arena, Project Camel Train

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Jericho Disruptive Innovation (JDI) team is making headway on autonomous aerial logistics systems to support

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 632 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

The Ghost Shark is one of the uncrewed systems the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit will operate. Story by Lieutenant Dylan Thinee. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Navy names autonomous systems unit

15/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 656 Views 0 Comments AUKUS, Ghost Shark, Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU)

The Royal Australian Navy has formally named the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU), marking a key step in Navy’s transition

Vice Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman and Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart with Private Blaithe Gill-O’Connor, the winner of the 2026 Defence Capability Award. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Kris Kerehona.

ADF People Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology

Camouflage innovation wins award

10/04/202610/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 669 Views 0 Comments Chief of Army, Edgy Air Force Lab, MakerSpace

A digger’s development of rapidly deployable vehicle camouflage to better hide from drones has earned him a gold commendation. CAPTION:

From left, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Deputy Secretary Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group Chris Deeble during a Defence Science and Technology Capability showcase in Canberra. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite.

News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Australia supports Canada’s Arctic radar plans

09/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 622 Views 0 Comments BAE Systems, canada, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), Chief of Air Force, DST, JORN

Australia’s world-leading Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is set to play a central role in Canada’s ambitions to build the

HMAS Adelaide sails into a rain cloud during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Leading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Turning ocean data into decision superiority*

25/03/202628/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 832 Views 1 Comment Bluelink, DSTG

For more than two decades, a quiet but powerful platform has been working behind the scenes to support Navy missions

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 709 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

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 486 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

Defence Science and Technology Group’s molecular biologist Natalie Withington, uses the RASTRUM Allegro 3D cell bioprinter to grow organoids. Story by David Kilmartin. Photo by Megan Sheppard.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Science & Technology

Printing mini livers to save lives

10/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1270 Views 0 Comments DSTG

When personnel are exposed (or potentially exposed) to chemical threats, they’re treated with countermeasures known as oximes. CAPTION: Defence Science