The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed two aircraft and approximately 170 personnel to Guam to enhance trilateral interoperability with the United States and Japan as part of Exercise Cope North 21. Exercise Cope North is a long-standing combined military exercise which aims to improve…

In April 2018, following an open tender process, Phoenix International Australia was selected to deliver a deployable submarine rescue system for use with both the Collins and Attack class submarine fleets. Following a series of delays in 2019 and 2020, the Department of Defence initiated an…

Statement As part of Defence’s robust screening processes for foreign military arrivals, a positive COVID-19 result has been returned for a foreign military official and the partner of another official who recently arrived in Darwin while in mandatory quarantine. The two individuals were part of…

The Australian Defence College will resume limited international training for foreign military partners in 2021, with the first officials arriving in Australia in early January. This training program is highly valued and reinforces Australia’s reputation across the region as the security partner of…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has concluded its contribution to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) in the Middle East Region. Personnel from the Australian contingent joined coalition partners in a formal flag lowering ceremony at the IMSC Headquarters in Bahrain on 28…

The Australian War College academic program has concluded for 2020 with graduations being held this week for the College’s two year-long academic programs – the Australian Command and Staff Course (ACSC) and the Defence Strategic Studies Course (DSSC).This year, 174 Australian Defence Force,…

Chief of Air Force has announced the signing of the Air Cooperation Framework with the Royal Air Force formalising the two services’ long standing collaboration.The Framework provides a structure aligned to the over-arching Australia-UK Military Cooperation Framework and is based on shared…

Defence is looking for an Australian industry partner to deliver a new, innovative approach to the sustainment of Navy’s fleet, which will boost defence industry in the regions through the establishment of Regional Maintenance Centres.A tender has opened for a Regional Maintenance Provider for…

Chief of the Defence ForceGeneral Angus J. Campbell, AO DSC  Statement On 19 November 2020, I released the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force’s Afghanistan Inquiry report and spoke publicly about its findings and recommendations. Defence is developing a comprehensive…

The 13th annual ANAO 2019-20 Defence Major Projects Report tabled today demonstrates transparency in relation to Defence’s largest acquisition projects. The Report outlines the progress and performance of Defence’s 25 largest and most complex acquisition projects and highlights that all 25 projects…

Statement from the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO on administrative action.*E&OE Check against delivery*   Let me begin by stating that the welfare of Army’s people is always foremost in our mind. To set the scene, over 26,000 people served in Afghanistan on…

Major General Susan Coyle CSC, DSM has transferred command of Australian Forces in the Middle East region to Rear Admiral Michael Rothwell, AM. The transition occurred during a ceremony at Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East on 25 November 2020.Major General Coyle said her…

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we meet, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to their Elders; past, present and emerging. Today, the Australian Defence Force is rightly held to account for allegations of grave misconduct by some members of our Special Forces…

Chief of the Defence Force Angus J. Campbell, AO DSC Today I hosted my Indonesian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), for the 8th annual Australia‑Indonesia High Level Committee Meeting, which was held virtually this year. The High Level…

Statement from the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, on actions following the IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry findings   Today I have been in Perth, Western Australia, at the Australian Army’s Special Air Service Regiment. The Chief of Defence Force, General Angus…

Defence joins all Australians on Remembrance Day to honour those who have given their life in service to our nation on operations for more than a century. The Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC, attended the National Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and…

I reject the premise in the ABC article ‘Veteran warns Australia's Collins Class submarine fleet has limited ability to save trapped submariners’ (11 November 2020) that our submarines are not safe, or that Defence is not providing a safe work environment for our submariners. Their safety is our…

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will host Marine Nationale units FNS Emeraude and FNS Seine at Fleet Base West from 9 November 2020. Prior to the maintenance and logistics visit, Australian Defence Force elements, including HMAS Anzac, HMAS Sheean and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft exercised with the…

The Chief of the Defence Force Angus J. Campbell, AO, DSC   Statement Today I have received the Afghanistan Inquiry report from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF). The independent inquiry was commissioned by Defence in 2016 after rumours and allegations emerged…

Delegates from Pacific Island nations’ security agencies have connected from across the region for the second Joint Heads of Pacific Security event.The Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell AO DSC, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece P Kershaw APM, and Australian…

The Australian Defence Force has finished its latest mission to help regional partners detect illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Southwest Pacific. A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan aircraft provided aerial surveillance as part of the ongoing Australian Operation…

Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO today announced the successful recipients of the 2020/21 Army History Research Grants Scheme (AHRGS). Fourteen recipients will receive a combined total of $93,409 in Australian Government funding to support historical research…

The US Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) 2020 has completed its ninth rotation in Australia.    The MRF-D departed the Northern Territory after successfully undertaking a range of exercises, which strengthened cooperation and interoperability with the Australian Defence Force (ADF…

A new research grants program is set to boost innovation and assist in developing national security and intelligence capacity within Australian universities.The $18 million National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants (NISDRG) program is funded by Defence (through its National…

A successful Defence and industry partnership has improved the ability for analysts to search for and assimilate Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data. The Wagardi Mission System is a new computer user interface that searches across multiple ISR databases, delivering information…

The deadline for applications for inclusion in the 2021 Australian Defence Sales Catalogue has been extended after a surge in demand from defence industry. Submissions for the catalogue have been extended by one week and will now close at 11:59 pm AEST on Sunday 4 October 2020. The Australian…

Australian Army personnel and United States Marines from Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) have completed Exercise Koolendong, a high-end live-fire warfighting exercise in the Northern Territory. Exercise Koolendong has enhanced the ability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and MRF-D to…

United States Air Force B-1B Lancers and B-2 Spirit bombers have recently participated in a combined United States-Australia exercise in the Northern Territory. The B1-B and B-2 aircraft flew from Guam and Diego Garcia respectively, and operated over Delamere, Bradshaw and Mount Bundey training…

Four Royal Australian Navy warships and more than 700 Defence personnel have completed Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020 (RIMPAC), the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise. An at-sea-only event in light of COVID-19 concerns, this year’s exercise culminated in a mid-intensity high-end…

The Government is committed to building Defence capability and ensuring our men and women in uniform have the best capability. More, together: Defence Science and Technology Strategy 2030 released earlier this year outlines the Government’s focus on ensuring Australia maintains a regionally…