Operation Southern Discovery 2025-26 is underway, marked by the successful airdrop of approximately 12 tonnes of essential equipment from a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III to Casey Station.

The delivery included critical supplies such as fresh food, life support stores, and scientific equipment to support the Australian Antarctic Division, Million Year Ice Core project. 

Operation Southern Discovery represents the Australian Defence Force contribution to the Australian Antarctic Program, led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Defence’s support to Antarctic operations. 

Personnel from the Navy, Army and Air Force will operate across Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, providing specialist capabilities to enable scientific research and logistic operations. 

Key contributions include: 

• Unmanned Aerial Drone operators and Navy surveyors aboard the icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, supporting the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) first expedition to Heard Island and McDonald Islands in 20 years.

• Six C-17A Globemaster III cargo flights between mainland Australia and Wilkins Aerodrome delivering fresh food, infrastructure, scientific equipment and priority cargo.

• Fourteen Hobart-based air logistics specialists preparing cargo for transport to Casey Station.

• Four warehousing personnel supporting the AAD Cargo Biosecurity Centre in Hobart. 

• Four Casey Station-based air logistics specialists preparing cargo for return flights.

• One Navy meteorologist embedded with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting team at Casey Station.

• One Navy communications operator supporting summer operations at Casey Station.

• Fourteen logistics specialists augmenting a New Zealand Defence Force team to unload logistics vessels at McMurdo Station. 

Quotes attributable to Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN 

“Operation Southern Discovery 2025-26 continues to support the Million Year Ice Core project.”

“This is one of the most ambitious and challenging scientific missions ever undertaken in Antarctica. Through international collaboration, the project seeks to uncover why, nearly one million years ago, Earth’s glacial cycles shifted from occurring every 41,000 years to every 100,000 years.” 

“The Australian Defence Force is supporting this international effort by delivering personnel and essential equipment across vast distances to some of the most remote and sparsely populated regions in the world.”

“The Australian Defence Force’s role in the Australian Antarctic Program aligns fully with the Antarctic Treaty, which permits military support only for scientific research and other peaceful purposes. Our contribution reflects a longstanding commitment to international cooperation and supporting peaceful scientific activities in Antarctica.” 

Media note

Media can access imagery of ADF support to the Million Year Ice Core Project at http://images.defence.gov.au/S2025296

Previous imagery of Operation Southern Discovery is available at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20243857

Information about Operation Southern Discovery is available at https://www.defence.gov.au/defence-activities/operations/domestic-operations/southern-discovery