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On 17 February 2022, an Australian Maritime Patrol Aircraft P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft while it was conducting a routine surveillance flight over Australia’s northern approaches. The laser was detected as emanating from a People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) vessel…

Defence can confirm that on 17 February 2022, a P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft while in flight over Australia’s northern approaches. The laser was detected as emanating from a People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) vessel. Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese…

The Australian Defence Force Academy’s (ADFA) incoming Midshipmen and Officer Cadets were formally welcomed today at the annual Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Parade. The CDF Parade marks the culmination of the initial military training period for more than 330 first year Midshipmen and Officer…

I reject criticisms made in The Australian article ‘Defence revises down planned availability of the F-35A jet fleet’. The criticisms contained are completely unfounded. The Royal Australian Air Force has revised the expected flying hours based on our maturing understanding of the F-35A capability…

With sadness, we note the tragic passing of Professor Brendan Sargeant over the weekend.  Professor Sargeant was one of Australia’s leading strategic and defence thinkers. He had a long and distinguished career at the Department of Defence. Brendan Sargeant joined the Department in 1983 as an…

A United States delegation, led by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Director for Logistics and Engineering, Brigadier General Jered Helwig, will visit bases and facilities in Australia to progress the Australian-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2021 commitments. Indo-Pacific Command’s senior…

Defence can confirm that HMAS Adelaide has experienced a power outage. Back-up power has been activated to restore essential systems. The situation is being closely monitored and the safety of the ship and the embarked personnel remains our highest priority. Following a number of…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will deploy aircraft and personnel to Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands to conduct Exercise Cope North 2022 with the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku-Jieitai) from 2 to 18 February 2022. The…

The Department of Defence has recorded 23 positive COVID cases on board HMAS Adelaide. The cases were detected after HMAS Adelaide set sail to Tonga as part of Operation TONGA ASSIST, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-led effort to…

On 8-9 December 2021 (AEDT), the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative Principals Board – comprising representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States – met in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to discuss cooperation on space security.…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) partnered with the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) to deliver specialist training in Port Vila, Vanuatu last month. Supported by the Vanuatu-Australia Defence Cooperation Program, the three-week program focused on delivering training aligned with VPF priorities. This…

The Australian Army has celebrated the graduation and commissioning of its next generation of leaders at the Royal Military College – Duntroon. The Corps of Staff Cadets was joined by the Governor-General, foreign dignitaries, Army leaders, as well as their family and friends. This celebration is…

The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, today announced the establishment of a new Army Aviation Command, at a ceremonial parade and helicopter flyover at Blamey Square, Canberra.    Lieutenant General Burr said the formation of the Army Aviation Command was a…

Almost 300 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) members have completed officer training in 2021 – the largest cohort of new officers to graduate in a single year since the 1950’s. This week, 125 RAN members graduated from the New Entry Officers’ Course (NEOC) at the Royal Australian Naval College in Jervis…

The Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) have progressed delivery of the Vanuatu Government National Emergency Radio Network in time for the upcoming high risk weather season. The emergency network connects police posts across Vanuatu’s six provinces, enabling inter-island…

Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessels have finished nine days of maritime warfare training with four nations during ANNUALEX 2021. HMA Ships Brisbane and Warramunga joined the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Canadian Navy and German Navy in the Philippine Sea to…

Defence is aware of social media posts claiming the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is forcibly vaccinating or detaining members of the Australian community.  These claims are emphatically false. Defence personnel currently supporting Northern Territory Government authorities cannot forcibly…

The Australian Army has completed another successful round of partnered training with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) during Exercise Coral Warrior in Fiji. Commander 1st Division Major General Jake Ellwood said the annual, bi-lateral training activity aims to enhance skills in military…

Troops from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have successfully concluded Exercise Kumul Exchange at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville.The exercise saw a contingent of PNGDF soldiers integrated within the 3rd Brigades infantry, combat engineer and combat…

The Royal Australian Navy’s last Auxiliary Oiler supply ship, HMAS Sirius has been farewelled by Navy’s east-coast based Fleet and dignitaries ahead of its decommissioning in Western Australia in December. New South Wales Governor General Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC and…

Almost 450 men and women who embarked on HMAS Canberra earlier this year have returned to Fleet Base East, Sydney today following a near five month deployment. The Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) left Sydney in July and took part in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 21 off Queensland,…

Ships and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) participated in Exercise NICHI GOU TRIDENT off the coast of Japan from 10-12 November 2021. The bilateral exercise has been a regular fixture in each nation’s schedule since 2009. Anzac class…

Today on Remembrance Day, Defence joins Australians across the nation to acknowledge, honour and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country and those who have given their life in service to our nation on military and peacekeeping operations. Remembrance Day 2021 marks…

The Royal Australian Navy has successfully completed its annual submarine search and rescue exercise off the coast of Western Australia, along with international participants from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Navy’s submarine abandonment, escape and rescue system has been certified for another…

Two United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bombers have swept over the Top End for training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). After travelling over six thousand kilometres from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the B-1B crews flew emergency diversion familiarisation training at RAAF…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has assisted regional partners in detecting and deterring illegal fishing activity in the Pacific during the latest iteration of Operation Solania. The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Wollongong worked with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s (PNGDF)…

The world-class development of Australia’s Boeing Loyal Wingman program recently achieved several major milestones, with two aircraft successfully completing flight missions at the Woomera Range Complex, South Australia. This follows the Loyal Wingman’s inaugural flight on 27 February 2021, laying…

The Department of Defence is seeking input from industry to support the ongoing management and operation of the Captain Cook graving dock at the Garden Island Defence Precinct in Sydney. The Captain Cook graving dock is a key strategic national asset which supports naval sustainment operations…

The Department of Defence has signed a contract with Telstra to continue the delivery of critical network and telecommunications services in support of Defence operations. The contract, valued at over $1 billion, will extend and refresh the Terrestrial Communications Services Contract with Telstra…

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga has joined international efforts to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea. This is the sixth time Australia has deployed a warship on Operation Argos, Australia’s commitment to the enforcement of these sanctions, since it…