Defence’s Australian Hydrographic Office has released major updates to three official electronic navigational charts, improving accuracy and enhancing navigational safety for shipping and commercial vessels in the Torres Strait. The updated charts are the result of a single continuous survey of the…

Pacific security leaders from 25 countries have visited Nadi, Fiji for the fourth Joint Heads of Pacific Security (JHOPS) meeting to share ideas and discuss regional solutions to common security challenges. More than 70 leaders, from defence, police, customs, immigration and Pacific regional bodies…

Today on Remembrance Day, Defence joins all Australians as we pause to honour those who have given their life in service to our nation. We also remember and pay respect to those who have served our nation on military and peacekeeping operations for more than a century. Chief of the Defence Force,…

Defence Ministers and senior delegates from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, and observer nations Japan, United Kingdom and United States, met in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, for the annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) from 18-19 October 2022.…

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel and aircraft have deployed to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Butterworth Air Base to participate in Exercise Elangaroo, an air-to-air fighter interaction exercise.   This year’s exercise involves Australian F-35A Lightning II and C-27J Spartan…

Australians are encouraged to help protect the nation’s cybersecurity future, as the Australian Cyber and Security Centre (ACSC) – a key part of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) - launches its third annual Cyber Threat Report. The Cyber Threat Report is a key tool of the ASD in helping all…

The contribution of Defence scientists has been celebrated at this year’s Defence Science and Technology Achievement Awards, held at a ceremony in Edinburgh, South Australia. Scientists were recognised for contributions such as leadership in autonomous cyber operations, technical expertise in the…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) have signed an arrangement formalising their cooperation in air-to-air refuelling. Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie, AM, CSC, Air Commander Australia and Lieutenant General Park Ha Sik, Commander, ROKAF Operation…

Defence is replacing and expanding its current medium air mobility fleet of 12 C-130J Hercules aircraft via Project AIR 7404 Phase 1. The C-130J Hercules variant is a reliable and combat proven aircraft operated by the Royal Australian Air Force since 1999. Defence has approached a number of…

Defence capability in Western Australia will be strengthened, with NSM (Australia) Pty Ltd appointed as the Regional Maintenance Provider for Defence’s new Regional Maintenance Centre West. The five-year contract, valued initially at $32 million with the potential to increase to up to $…

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta is supporting the deterrence and monitoring of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods bound for North Korea in support of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Operation ARGOS. Australia is committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council (…

Adelaide’s 9th Brigade has become the Australian Army’s first truly integrated combat brigade, with the incorporation of several full-time Adelaide-based units into what was previously a part-time organisation. A transition of authority parade was held at RAAF Base Edinburgh today to mark the move…

The Australian Government has signed a Commonwealth Avionics Upgrade Acquisition Contract for the C-27J Spartan Light Tactical Fixed Wing fleet. The $70 million contract with Leonardo will result in the replacement and upgrade of existing radio capability, further improving the overall safety and…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is on a mission to grow its workforce and inspire the next generation of recruits with immersive job experiences and school-based digital technology programs. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is travelling across Australia to support a number of interactive…

The 2022 Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) have departed Australia, bringing an end to the eleventh annual rotation of United States Marines Corps (USMC) through the Northern Territory. As part of this year’s rotation, approximately 2,200 US military personnel trained with the Australian…

In an important milestone for the Australian Defence Force, the Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle has reached Initial Operational Capability on schedule under Project Land 400 Phase 2. The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said the Boxer was tested during Exercise Sea Raider and is…

More than 260 military personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom have deployed to Singapore for the latest iteration of Exercise Suman Protector. 30 Defence personnel will attend the nine-day Command Post Exercise (CPX), which builds on decades of…

The Australian Government has signed a five-year contract with Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd to continue to invest in the capability of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Collins class submarines. The $322 million contract will provide in-service support for the Collins class submarine combat system…

The Royal Australian Navy has decommissioned Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Glenelg at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin following 14 years of service. Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, CSC, RAN attended the ceremony and recognised the service of the Ship’s Company. “HMAS…

Three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships have commenced a regional presence deployment through the Indo-Pacific region, marking the fourth such deployment this year. During this deployment HMA Ships Hobart, Stalwart, and Arunta will participate in maritime exercises with regional partners and…

Defence has deployed a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the Mediterranean as part of Operation SEA GUARDIAN 22. Operation SEA GUARDIAN is an ongoing non-Article 5 NATO maritime security operation aimed at maintaining maritime situational awareness, deterring…

Yesterday, Chief of Joint Capabilities, Lieutenant General John Frewen, officially opened the Pitt-Johnston Electromagnetic Warfare Research Centre, a collaboration between Joint Capabilities Group and the Defence Science and Technology Group. This purpose-built facility boasts a highly secure…

Defence, in collaboration with the United States Space Force (USSF), have achieved Initial Operational Capability to provide enhanced space domain awareness As announced at the 2012 Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), the Space Surveillance Telescope was relocated to…

The Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force have joined Indigenous and community leaders to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the formation of the NTSRU – the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit. The Unit was created in 1942 to protect Australia’s north during World War II.…

Two large-scale Army exercises came to a close in Townsville last week, with Australian and Indonesian military personnel participating in the Junior Officers’ Combat Instructor Training (JOCIT) course and Exercise Sea Raider. JOCIT builds on an important and enduring partnership between the…

A combined contingent from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) have located 22 WWII-era aerial bombs for removal from Tuvalu waters during Operation RENDER SAFE 2022. At the request of the Government of…

Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding Program has reached another milestone, with the keel laying for its fifth offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in Henderson, Western Australia. A coin was positioned under the keel of OPV 5 (Illawarra) – the first of many traditions for a Navy ship. “A keel laying is an…

Eighty years on from the decisive campaign, Australian Army soldiers have walked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea (PNG), commemorating the service and sacrifice of those who fought in the defence of Australia during World War II. Members of the 39th Operational Support Battalion and 16th Royal…

Australia and Indonesia will conduct bilateral air mobility training at RAAF Base Townsville for Exercise Rajawali Ausindo from 25 to 29 September 2022. The exercise will involve a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angatan Udara, or TNI-…

Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System has been rolled out today as part of a partnership between the Australian Department of Defence, the United States Navy and Northrop Grumman. Head Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, said the partnership would support…