More Defence news: 04 August - 10 August 2008
| Netherlands Army Buy Bushmasters | Navy Heads Bush for Variety Bash | F-111s Fly in for Exercise Northern Challenge | Blast-Proof Buildings to Come | ADF Rugby Players go Pink for Breast Cancer | RAAF Base Edinburgh Raises Funds for Prostate Cancer | ADF ‘Kick Around’ Goes Global | Tigers Land in Darwin | Queensland Reservists Home from Solomon Islands | Air Force’s No 34 Squadron | Head of NATO Visits Australian Troops in Afghanistan | Reservists Deploy to Solomon Islands | HMAS Ballarat Attends Tonga Coronation | |
| Netherlands Army Buy Bushmasters 8 August – The Netherlands Army has recently bought 36 Bushmasters from Thales Australia. On top of this purchase, the Netherlands Army ordered another 13 Bushmasters. The vehicle has also sparked interest in the United Kingdom, with an order placed for 24 Bushmasters. The Bushmaster is currently deployed overseas with the Australian Defence Force and has performed remarkably well, offering a high level of operational performance and protection level. To date 443 Bushmaster variant vehicles have been sold and contracts are being negotiated for a further 250 for the Australian Defence Force. More: Media release |
|
| Navy Heads Bush for Variety Bash 8 August – A team from the Royal Australian Navy has headed off to the bush as party of the New South Wales Variety Bush Bash to raise funds for children’s charities. Navy personnel will begin the 4,000km journey traveling via Mildura to Murray Bridge in South Australia before heading back along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and finishing in Batemans Bay. The teams traveling in an HR and an EH Holden have raised more than $50,000 for Variety this year. More: Media release |
|
F-111s Fly in for Exercise Northern Challenge
The activity represented the Operational Conversion Course for the training F-111 aircrew; providing comprehensive instructions on all F-111 operations by day and night. More: Image gallery |
|
| Blast-Proof Buildings to Come 8 August – A new three-year research program between Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of Adelaide is aiming to evaluate and develop materials and engineering solutions to minimise the effects of terrorist explosions. The research will focus on studying the performance of ultra high performance concrete materials when subjected to blast loads. DSTO will conduct the blast tesing and analyse the data. More: Media release |
|
| ADF Rugby Players go Pink for Breast Cancer 8 August - Tomorrow the first grade players in the Riverina ADF Rugby Club will take to the field wearing pink jerseys and playing with a pink rugby ball in support of breast cancer research, during their match against Rivcoll. At half time a novelty hobbyhorse race will be held, involving teams from the Army Recruit Training Companies. The charity event will finish with a Sportsman’s dinner the Uranquinty Function Centre in the evening. |
|
RAAF Base Edinburgh Raises Funds for Prostate Cancer
Defence Personnel from RAAF Base Edinburgh took the challenge selling around 1000 finger buns, raising $1,500 towards Prostate SA. |
|
ADF ‘Kick Around’ Goes Global
Australian Defence Force troops have been running Aussie Rules clinics for local children, showcasing an important part of Australian culture. In East Timor the clinic has been operating for almost one year with 50 children participating in weekly training sessions. More: Media release | Image gallery |
|
| Tigers Land in Darwin 6 August – Recently Army’s capability in the Northern Territory was boosted with the arrival of the first 3 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters, otherwise known as ‘Tigers’. Defence is aiming to have 17 Tiger helicopters based in Darwin as part of the 1st Aviation Regiment, forming two flying squadrons – the 161st and 162nd Reconnaissance Squadrons. The squadrons will be co-located with the Army's 1st Brigade to build a cohesive combat force. The Tiger is one of the most technologically advanced helicopters of its type in the world; software driven, and constructed using 80 per cent composite materials to enhance stealth characteristics. A total of 22 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters will be delivered to the Australian Defence Force for $1.2 billion under Defence’s AIR 87 project. More: Media release | Image gallery |
|
| Queensland Reservists Home from Solomon Islands 6 August - Tomorrow afternoon more than 40 Brisbane and regional South Queensland Army Reservists will return from deployment in the Solomon Islands. The Army Reservist will return to Australia from Rotation 15 of Operation ANODE at 3.15pm through the Domestic terminal, Brisbane Airport. The soldiers and officers were part of a contingent of over 100 soldiers and officers from Queensland’s 11 Brigade which, along with its Victorian counterparts, was involved in a successful mission that has reinforced the relevance and capability the Army Reserve provides to the Australian Defence Force. |
|
Air Force’s No 34 Squadron
An ‘unsung hero’ of the Air Force within its operational realm is No 34 Squadron. The squadron has a requirement to be ready for deployment both domestically and internationally, with three hours notice– 365 days a year. Those are ‘preparedness statistics’ that any commander in the Australian Defence Force would be proud to boast. No 34 Squadron carries members of the Royal Family, visiting heads of state and other foreign dignitaries when visiting Australia and the region. The Squadron also carries the Governor-General, Prime Minister and other Australian Government officials on a daily basis. With its modern Boeing 737 and Challenger 604 aircraft, and an outstanding record for safety and efficiency, 34 Squadron continues to provide the highest standard of special purpose transport to the Australian Government. More: Image gallery |
|
| Head of NATO Visits Australian Troops in Afghanistan 4 August - The head of NATO has praised Australia’s contribution to the war in Afghanistan during a visit to diggers in a remote outpost in the Baluchi region of Oruzgan Province. The Alliance’s Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, recently flew into an Australian Forward Operating Base in the Baluchi Valley, to witness the recent development and security work of Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) soldiers. The NATO Secretary General said he was very impressed with the work of the Australian troops in the remote area. In both construction tasks, RTF soldiers have joined with their Afghan Army counterparts and members of the local population to get the development tasks complete. More: Media release |
|
| Reservists Deploy to Solomon Islands 4 August - More than 140 Reserve soldiers from Canberra, Wollongong, Bathurst, Orange and Sydney’s Western suburbs have been deployed as part of the Australian contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The aim of the RAMSI is to help the local government to bring peace and stability to the Islands through improved law and order. The contingent for Operation ANODE (Rotation 16) has been drawn from the 5th and 8th Brigades under the banner of the Royal New South Wales Regiment. The Reservists will be deployed for four-months and will carry out 24-hour street patrols and other designated tasks in support of the Participating Police Forces within the Solomon Islands. More: Media release |
|
HMAS Ballarat Attends Tonga Coronation
The ship’s company enjoyed participating in the historic celebration and cultural experience. His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, the Governor-General of Australia, led Australia’s representation at the Coronation and visited HMAS Ballarat, presenting a number of awards. The visit to HMAS Ballarat was quite special as it was His Excellency’s final Naval engagement, and in fact, the last time he will visit an ADF unit. HMAS Ballarat is currently undertaking a deployment in the Southwest Pacific region to engage Australia’s regional neighbours and strengthen international ties. More: Image gallery |
