Operation Kudu – CONTACT magazine

An Australian Defence Force member delivers a training brief to Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel during a platoon and company sergeants' battle course on Operation KUDU 26. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

Australia moving Ukraine trainers to Poland

04/06/202604/06/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 711 Views 0 Comments Operation Kudu, Poland, Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF)

Australian Defence Force personnel will henceforth train Ukrainian soldiers in Poland as part of Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine’s

Australian Defence Force personnel demonstrate a training serial for Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel during a section commanders' battle course on Operation KUDU 26. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

ADF News UK

Australians continue to train Ukrainians

23/05/202627/05/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 415 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu

Trench lines stretch across the training area as drones buzz overhead – a constant reminder that modern warfare demands more

An Australian Army soldier signals 'all clear' to launch a drone using first-person-view goggles during the Modify and Operate Attack Drone (FPV) course at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Story by Major Martin Hadley. Photos by Sergeant Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Army accelerates drone training

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 679 Views 0 Comments 2RAR, 5/7 RAR, Armed Forces of Ukraine, drones, first-person view drones (FPVD), Operation Kudu, Puckapunyal, Royal Australian Regiment

Perched atop the rugged hillside and camouflaged in hides, teams operate their drones, sweeping for targets among the close terrain,

Squadron Leader Chris Dilger in Poland. Story by Lieutenant Commander John A. Thompson. Photo by Lieutenant Commander J. A. Thompson.

ADF ADF People News

From mining shifts to delivering tanks

04/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 769 Views 0 Comments M1A1 Abrams, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

For Squadron Leader Chris Dilger, being stationed in Poland as part of Operation Kudu was a bit like a homecoming.

Australian Army Lieutenant Mitchell 'Tex' Walker in tank number 51 during the delivery of Australian M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson

Australian Army News

Aussies who prepared tanks for Ukraine delivery

22/01/202625/01/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1264 Views 2 Comments M1A1 Abrams, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

The recent delivery of the final batch of M1A1 Abrams to Ukraine had special meaning for Townsville-born – and now

Australian M1A1 Abrams tanks bound for Ukraine are unloaded in Europe after arriving from Australia on a cargo ship. Photo by Lance Corporal JA Thompson.

Australian Army Europe News

Australia completes delivery of tanks to Ukraine

19/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2150 Views 0 Comments M1A1 Abrams, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed its landmark commitment to provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks, reinforcing the

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant Belinda Gabrielsen deployed on Operation Kudu in Poland. Photo by Leading Seeaman Kylie Jagiello.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Support staff keep Wedgetail supporting Ukraine

21/10/202525/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2138 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Operation Kudu

As the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft takes flight on another mission over Eastern Europe, the men and women who worked tirelessly

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail conducts a flyover in support of Polish Armed Forces Day celebrations during deployment to Operation Kudu in Poland. Story by Captain Karam Louli.

Europe News Royal Australian Air Force

Wedgetail watches NATO’s eastern flank

17/10/202517/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1868 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, NATO, No. 2 Squadron, Operation Kudu, Poland

ADF aviators silently watched Europe’s eastern flank to assist with peace and stability in the region under Operation Kudu, Australia’s

Australian Army soldiers farewell Armed Forces of Ukraine members as they return home to Ukraine from Operation Kudu Rotation 10 in the United Kingdom. Story by Captain Brittany Evans. Photos by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Australian Army News UK

Training Ukrainians becomes personal

27/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4265 Views 0 Comments NATO, Operation Kudu, United Kingdom

For Australian soldiers and officers on the 10th rotation of Operation Kudu, supporting and training Ukrainian soldiers for four-and-a-half months

Commander of the Australian contingent, Major Tom Folley, pauses during Operation Kudu. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

Australian Army Europe News

Training of Ukrainians evolves with the war

04/07/202504/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3970 Views 2 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu

Australia’s support for the multi-national mission to train Ukrainian military personnel continues to evolve, three years after Russia’s 2022 invasion

For his work during Operation Kudu, Squadron Leader Darrin Lindsay receives the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Building a strong team with honesty and leadership

10/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1823 Views 0 Comments King's Birthday Honours, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

From a base in Germany, Squadron Leader Darrin Lindsay commanded a 100-strong team flying E-7A Wedgetail missions for Operation Kudu,

An Australian Army soldier serving on Operation Kudu instructs Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel on section attack tactics. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

From dream job to nightmare of Russian invasion

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 11381 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Interflex, Operation Kudu, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Olena was at her dream job, a personal trainer at a successful gym, when she heard news of Russia’s invasion

Australian Army soldiers provide instructional training to Ukrainian personnel on Operation Kudu in the UK. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photos by Lance Corporal Andrew Shaw.

Australian Army News UK Videos

Valuable training for Ukrainians continues

26/11/202428/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 5438 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu

Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) soldiers extolled the value of training with Australian personnel on the latest courses to assist

Army medic Corporal Orlando Tagaloa participates in Exercise Rendezvous Acacia at the Wide Bay Training area, Queensland. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

ADF People Australian Army

Gentle giant enjoys medical mentoring role

04/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2568 Views 0 Comments 3rd Health Battalion, Exercise Rendezvous Acacia, Operation Kudu

When you first lay eyes on Army medic Corporal Orlando Tagaloa, his towering stature and formidable physique instantly command attention.

Australian guitarist Glen Harrison gives his all while performing with Australian country music star Amber Lawrence during a Forces Entertainment Tour in the UK. Story and photos by Major Dave Thompson.

Australian Army News Overseas

Entertaining the troops the true-blue way

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2727 Views 0 Comments Forces Entertainment Tour, Operation Kudu

ADF personnel training Ukrainian soldiers in Britain under Operation Kudu have received a touch of home-inspired, true-blue, live country music

Major Alan Bretherton in the UK. Story by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

ADF People Australian Army

Major on a mission with purpose

07/06/202407/06/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2840 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu, United Kingdom

A former Royal Australian Air Force Cadet is heading up an expanded ADF contingent training Ukrainian personnel in the UK

RAAF 36 Squadron personnel walk from a C-17 Globemaster towards Hurley’s Hangar after arriving at Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East region. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Aussies deploy on Operation Hydranth

17/05/202418/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2703 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Middle East Region, No. 36 Squadron, Operation Accordion, Operation Beech, Operation Hydranth, Operation Kudu

As Houthi rebels sank and raided vessels in the Red Sea, the Australian Government announced ADF personnel would deploy under

The crew of RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail meet Australia's High Commissioner, Stephen Smith, at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland after a six month European deployment as part of Operation Kudu. Story by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Guardian a blessing in the skies

26/04/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3169 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, No. 2 Squadron, Operation Kudu, RAAF Williamtown, Ukraine

Australia’s watchful ‘guardian-from-above’, the E-7A Wedgetail, has returned home after providing critical early-warning protection for the military and humanitarian logistic