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Four warships left Sydney today to begin the sea phase of the Royal Australian Navy’s first major exercise for the year, Fleet Certification Period 2020 (FCP20).  From 17 February to 6 March, HMA Ships Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius will war game in the vicinity of Bass Strait with five…

Shaping strategic policy in the fields of hydrography, nautical charting and related navigational safety is the focus of the South West Pacific Hydrographic Commission Meeting, held in Wollongong from 12-14 February 2020. Members of the South West Pacific Hydrographic Commission work together to…

The Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell AO DSC was joined by his counterpart, the Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, Air Marshal Kevin Short, during a visit to the Southwest Pacific. The Australia-New Zealand delegation met with Pacific Island leaders in Tonga, Fiji, Solomon…

The Australian Army and the wider Australian Defence Force (ADF) will acquire the Rafael Spike LR2 missile system as its Long Range Direct Fire Support Weapon capability, under the Lethality System project (Land 159).   Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO, DSC, MVO said…

The 14,000th young Australian to embark in Sailing Training Ship Young Endeavour has completed his 11-day voyage aboard the square-rigged tall ship. Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, AM acknowledged the achievement and congratulated 16 year old Matthew Shelverton, of Hobart,…

Defence can confirm that the fire currently burning in the Orroral Valley in the Namadgi National Park was likely caused by a landing light from an Army MRH-90 helicopter, while the aircraft was on the ground. The helicopter and crew were conducting aerial reconnaissance and ground clearance to…

The Royal Australian Navy has opened a centralised warfighting agency, designed to enhance Navy’s lethality in times of conflict. The Maritime Warfare Centre merges the Royal Australian Navy Test and Evaluation Authority (RANTEA) and Australian Maritime Warfare Centre (AMWC) into a centralised body…

ELLWOOD: Good afternoon. So, today, I decided yesterday to provide an update, nationally, about what has been going on in terms of the ADF support to the emergency management services and our community so I thought what I would do over the next three days is provide a focus item on each State. So,…

BILTON: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I'd just like to take the opportunity this afternoon to give the next operational update for Operation Bushfires Assist 2019-2020. I guess before I start by going into each of the States, I'd just like to give today's theme, if you like, operationally,…

ELLWOOD:  Thanks very much for being here. Look, I thought it worthwhile to provide a context that, as I stand here, it's been just on a week since the real surge in effort began and amazing things have been achieved by the Australian Defence Force but the emergency services and the Australian…

ELLWOOD: Alright, good afternoon. I'll now provide a briefing update on Operation Bushfire Assist.  I, this morning, visited Mallacoota, which is extremely worthwhile. Again, so impressed with our emergency management services and our volunteers and the community writ large and, of course, the…

BILTON: Hi, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. What I'd like to do today is give today's operational update brief for our support to the bushfires. The key themes for today continue to revolve around expanding the ADF's presence and further integrating our force with the state-based agencies…

ELLWOOD: Hi. So, I'm Major General Jake Ellwood. I'm the National Emergency Coordinator for ADF support to the bushfires and this afternoon, I'll give you a briefing on where we are. So firstly, this morning I went out to Eden and Merimbula. It was a very useful visit. You get a chance to see the…

ELLWOOD: Good afternoon. Look, at this stage, this will be the last update I will provide in this format unless circumstances should change, but I would highlight that there will still be updates and information provided on the Defence, Twitter and Facebook sites. We currently have 6,500 personnel…

ELLWOOD:  Good afternoon and thanks very much. Look, as we know, there were media reports that there was going to be significant weather, adverse weather, down in the southern regions over yesterday and today and there were reports that there may have been landslides. Obviously, that has not…

Greg Moriarty, Secretary of the Department of Defence General Angus Campbell AO DSC, Chief of Defence Force Vice Admiral Mike Noonan AO RAN, Chief of Navy Tony Dalton, Deputy Secretary National Naval Shipbuilding Australia is fully committed to working with France and Naval Group to deliver the…

ELLWOOD:  Good afternoon. We're now in the second week of significant support to the emergency management services, the surge, and I've been around the area over the last couple of days and I thought I'd take an opportunity just to talk about some of the things that I've seen out and about.So…

GREG BILTON: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  With me I have Major General Jake Ellwood, the national coordinator for our response to the bushfires across Australia.  My name, for those I haven't met or had any interaction with, is Greg Bilton.  I'm the Chief of Joint…

The article published in the Australian today, Thursday 19 December 2019, is misleading and incorrect. Aside from entirely misinformed comments regarding the Future Submarine Program, I am particularly disappointed with the statement that our sailors are reluctant to sail in the Collins class…

Operation Christmas Drop 19 has concluded in Guam, where a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130J Hercules and crew have delivered 23 loads to remote Pacific communities. Held annually since 1952, Operation Christmas Drop is led by the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and is the world’s…

Australia’s newest warship, HMAS Brisbane, arrived home to family and friends in Sydney today following her first overseas deployment.Brisbane’s arrival draws to a close the return of ten Royal Australian Navy warships from deployments across South East Asia, the Pacific, and the United States.Over…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has ceremoniously farewelled PC-9/A aircraft after more than 30 years of flying operations on 12 December 19. The PC-9/A aircraft was introduced to service in 1987, commencing pilot training in 1989 and has been the backbone of Air Force and Navy flight…

Submarines are an essential part of Australia’s naval capability.  Our submarines are a powerful instrument for deterring conflict and a potent weapon should conflict occur. Our current Collins Class fleet is recognised as a world class submarine capability.In the decades ahead,…

Two Royal Australian Navy Minehunters return home to Sydney in time for Christmas after a successful overseas deployment that saw them travel a record distance. HMAS Ships Diamantina and Gascoyne travelled more than thirteen thousand nautical miles in the past four months as they deployed to East…

Today the Australian Army’s 135th Graduating Class from the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D) have proudly paraded in front of family and friends in Canberra.  Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO said the young leaders graduating will shape the Army’s future. “Our…

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Richard Burr, AO, DSC, MVO today announced the successful applicants of the 2019/20 Army History Research Grants Scheme. The 13 recipients will receive a total of $81,504 in government funding to support research into the history of the Australian Army. Lieutenant…

Congratulations to the members of the Australian Command and Staff Course (Joint) who graduated today from the Australian Defence College (ADC). Over 180 personnel, including 51 international students representing 27 countries completed the course; a cohort including personnel from the Australian…

Three Royal Australian Navy warships have returned to their homeport at Garden Island, Sydney following a three month deployment through East Asia. HMA Ships Hobart, Stuart and Parramatta, the lead element of a Task Group of eleven vessels, have been deployed to the region since September. During…

The Royal Australian Air Force has announced achievement of Final Operational Capability for the C-130J Large Aircraft Infra-Red Counter-Measures.  Director General Air Combat Enablers, Air Commodore Mark Green said the project, delivered under AIR 5416 Phase 4B2, provided a critical defensive…

The Australian Defence Force has taken the next step in its enduring relationship with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Operation Augury-Philippines transitioned to an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program on 1 December, recognising the maturing connection between the militaries of both nations…