Exercise Kakadu – CONTACT magazine

Able Seaman Isabella Anderson and Lieutenant Craig Grant on board the Japanese Ship Kumano, during a port visit to Melbourne. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photos by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

Aussies learn the lay of the land at sea

01/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 604 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) members have been forging connections at sea on board the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate

Warrant Officer Jonathan West talks with a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sailor on board JS Kumano as the ship transits to the Port of Brisbane. Story by Lieutenant Michael Wilson. Photos: byLeading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

News Royal Australian Navy

First-hand look at Japanese frigate operations

22/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 572 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel recently gained first-hand exposure to Japan’s Mogami-class frigate and a clear view of the advanced

Maritime warfare officer Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce on the bridge wing of HMAS Stuart during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photos by Leading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Warfare officer charts course to Kakadu review

10/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 454 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Stuart

Acting Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce joined Navy to help people and explore the world. CAPTION: Maritime warfare officer Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce

Royal Australian Navy Maritime Trade Operations officers with counterparts from the United States Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy at Fleet Base East, Sydney, during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Lieutenant Mark Tesoriero. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

News Royal Australian Navy

Keeping Sydney Harbour moving

09/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 407 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Fleet Base East, Maritime Trade Operations (MTO)

At the best of times, Sydney Harbour is one of the world’s busiest waterways, so when the Royal Australian Navy

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 646 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

Royal Australian Navy Recruit Abby Watts on board HMAS Choules off the coast of New South Wales during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photo by Seaman Genae Kelly.

ADF People News Royal Australian Navy

New recruits test sea legs

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 441 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Choules

Testing their sea legs for the first time, 45 Navy recruits from HMAS Cerberus embarked on HMAS Choules for a sea ride they will

Guardian-class patrol boats from Pacific nations sail in company during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Michael Edwards. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Jon White.

News Royal Australian Navy

Leeuwin leads task unit to Jervis Bay

20/03/202621/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 413 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Leewin

HMAS Leeuwin is taking on a new role, leading six Pacific nations’ Guardian-class patrol boats as a task unit while they transit

Ships from Australia and regional partners transit through the Prince of Wales Channel, off the coast of north Queensland, during Exercise Kakadu. Photos by Seaman Genae Kelly.

News Royal Australian Navy

Kakadu exercises Pacific neighbours

18/03/202621/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 332 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Choules

The Royal Australian Navy continues to strengthen maritime readiness through officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres with regional partner nations in waters off Australia’s

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.

News Royal Australian Navy

Six navies align for Exercise Kakadu

18/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 338 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

HMAS Warramunga arrives at Port Melville, Melville Island, Northern Territory, where the Expeditionary Logistics Team – Maritime provided food and fuel to the ship before returning to the sea phase of Exercise Kakadu. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Warrant Officer Shane Cameron.

News Royal Australian Navy

Strengthening Navy’s supply chain

11/10/202412/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3369 Views 1 Comment 1st Combat Service Support Battalion, Exercise Kakadu, Expeditionary Logistics Team – Maritime (ELT-M), HMAS Warramunga

Navy added an important link to its supply chain recently as it proved the Expeditionary Logistics Team – Maritime (ELT-M)

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Rear Admiral Kazushi Yokota, Commander, Escort Flotilla 3, fires the .50 calibre machine gun on board HMAS Warramunga during Exercise Kakadu 24. Story by Lieutenant Marie Davies. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

News Royal Australian Navy

Aussie frigate welcomes Japanese admiral on board

01/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2276 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Warramunga, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Republic of Singapore Navy

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Rear Admiral Kazushi Yokota, embarked on anti-submarine warfare destroyer JS Ariake, spent an afternoon aboard HMAS