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The Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force has begun its engagement program in Indonesia during the final port visits before returning to Australia later this month. HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle arrived in Jakarta on 18 May, with HMAS Success visiting Makassar in South Sulawesi…

The Australian Defence Force Rugby League (ADF RL) has completed a successful tour in Tonga, where ADF personnel conducted training and coaching clinics with junior players and His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) players, from 15 to 17 May 2019. Building on the Australian National Rugby League’s…

Naval vessels from Australia, France, Japan and the United States are set to commence the first iteration of the French-led maritime exercise La Perouse in the Indian Ocean. Exercise La Perouse will consist of two Royal Australian Navy units, the helicopter frigate HMAS Toowoomba and…

The Defence Estate and Infrastructure Group (E&IG) have today handed over ownership of the new Space Surveillance Telescope Building to the Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).The completed building and supporting facilities, located in Exmouth, Western Australia, are an…

The Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force has departed Singapore for Jakarta, Indonesia, concluding its involvement in the International Maritime Defence Expo & Conference (IMDEX Asia). Commander IPE 19 Joint Task Force, Air Commodore Rick Owen said IPE played a crucial…

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has intercepted another 2.6 tonnes of illicit drugs while conducting a patrol in international waters in the Arabian Sea. The seizures, including approximately 2.5 tonnes of hashish and 135kg of heroin, were discovered in two vessels suspected of…

Following a request from the United Nations Command, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed a small number of military personnel to the Korean Peninsula to support the implementation of the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement. The Comprehensive Military Agreement, signed by the…

The one week tour of Tonga by Australian Army Rugby Union (AARU) culminated on game day, with matches between the men’s and women’s elite defence teams on 11 May 2019.Throughout the week the AARU trained with His Majesty’s Armed Forces players, played in a 7’s tournament, engaged with local school…

The first Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel has reached a significant milestone today with the ceremonial keel laying at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide.Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO, RAN positioned a coin to commemorate the laying of the keel for the…

A fighting force of tanks, helicopters, armoured reconnaissance vehicles, and infantry soldiers have showcased Australian Army’s joint combined arms capabilities during a live fire demonstration at Exercise Chong Ju in Puckapunyal, Victoria.Spectators witnessed the versatile and decisive force of…

Senior Defence officials will travel to Fiji this week to take part in the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) in Nadi on 9 May 2019.   Secretary of Defence, Mr Greg Moriarty, will represent the Minister for Defence at this year’s SPDMM. The Chief of the Defence Force, General…

The Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force is continuing its international engagement activities with the arrival of two ships in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle’s port call follows the recent signing in November of the Joint Vision Statement on enhancing…

HMAS Gascoyne has farewelled Tonga and Tuvalu following a month-long deployment to the Southwest Pacific region.More than 60 Australian Defence Force personnel travelled to the island nations between 8 April and 4 May 2019, conducting activities to support peace, security and the sovereignty, of…

Defence has welcomed the US Force Posture Initiatives (USFPI) Social and Economic Impact Study undertaken by KPMG showing Defence’s presence in the Northern Territory injects an average of $700 million annually into the local economy. The study confirms the importance of Defence as an…

The Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, Jr has confirmed the appointment of the Australian Defence Force’s Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer as the Deputy Commander United Nations Command Headquarters in the Republic of Korea. The appointment of Rear Admiral…

The Director of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), Mr Scott Dewar, and representatives from Papua New Guinea (PNG) conducted a formal hand over of new geospatial IT systems to the National Mapping Bureau in Port Moresby today.The gifting of these enhanced…

Initial Operating Capability (IOC) has been achieved for the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies said IOC for the Growler was a significant achievement in Defence’s efforts to improve joint electronic warfare capability.“Over time…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will roll out high-speed communications systems across another five of its C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. The Honeywell Ka-Band Satellite Communications (SATCOM) system provides broadband internet connectivity for crew and passengers. One Hercules was…

HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle have arrived in Phuket, Thailand as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE19), Australia’s international engagement and capacity-building mission to South and Southeast Asia. The 800 members of Canberra’s and Newcastle’s ships’ companies, as well as their…

Australia remains committed to implementing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, and will continue working with partners to monitor and deter ship‑to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods.Defence is deploying a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan, from where it…

One hundred and four years on from the landing of Australian troops at Gallipoli, the nation continues to honour and commemorate those who serve, have served previously, and those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a long history of maintaining the…

It is with deep regret that the Australian Defence Force confirms the death of an Australian Army soldier in New South Wales over the Easter weekend. Private Liam Wolf was completing basic training at the Army Recruit Training Centre in Kapooka, New South Wales, when he was involved in an…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) continues to enhance its regional engagement with the deployment of a Task Group to Tonga this week as part of a wider three nation visit program. The deployment, part of the Pacific ‘Step Up’, will also include visits to Tuvalu and Samoa between April and July by…

Eighteen Republic of Fiji Military Force soldiers have completed a three-week Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle driver’s course in Brisbane. Fiji purchased refitted Bushmasters from Australia in 2017 for use in peacekeeping operations and for training purposes, and have been sending soldiers to…

 More than 100 Australian Defence Force (ADF) athletes will compete in the Top End’s highly anticipated Arafura Games from 26 April - 4 May 2019.Over nine days, ADF competitors will join 800 volunteers and 1500 local, national and international athletes from more than 40 nations for the multi-…

The Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force is continuing its international engagement activities with the arrival of three ships into the Malaysian ports of Port Klang and Langkawi on 21 April. HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle are visiting Port Klang, outside of Kuala Lumpur,…

Eight New South Wales employers were recognised for their exceptional support of Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reservists at the Defence Reserves Support Council annual awards ceremony at Doltone House, Hyde Park, Sydney on 10 April 2019. Acting Head of Reserve and Youth Division, Brigadier…

As announced by the Prime Minister in August 2018, Fiji and Australia have continued to work closely on the design of Blackrock Camp, situated in Nadi, to transform it into a regional hub for police and peacekeeping training and pre-deployment preparation. Fiji's Ministry of Defence and…

The first of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) new Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft arrived in Canberra today. The new aircraft, being leased by RAAF, replace the Bombardier CL604 Challengers and provide a larger passenger load, modern communication and increased range and…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has positively identified a World War Two Catalina aircraft A24-64 following a successful reconnaissance mission in the Philippines. In March 2019, RAAF conducted an inspection of a crash site south-east of Cape Calavite on the north-west end of Mindoro…