The safety of Australians is set to further benefit from investment in ten new research programs, aimed at addressing the ever changing intelligence and national security landscape. Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro today announced the successful round two recipients of the National…

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC today announced the establishment of 2nd Division as an independent functional command at a ceremonial parade held at the Anzac Memorial at Hyde Park, Sydney. Lieutenant General Stuart said the enhancement of the 2nd Division was an important…

The Australian Army has laid to rest an unknown Australian World War I soldier with a military funeral today at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Tyne Cot Cemetery in Zonnebeke, Belgium. Believed to have fought in the Battle of Menin Road in 1917, the unknown soldier’s remains were…

US Marines of the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) and members of the Australian Defence Force from Australian Army’s 1st and 13th Brigade, and Royal Australian Air Force’s 36th, 37th and 75th Squadrons have commenced Exercise Koolendong this week across the Top End. The three week…

The Royal Australian Navy has welcomed the new Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AM, RAN, during a ceremony in Canberra. Outgoing Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN, said it had been an honour to lead the Navy through an extraordinary four years.   “I sincerely thank…

The 13th Engineer Regiment (13 ER) has been raised in Western Australia, making it the newest unit on the Australian Army order of battle. An Establishment Ceremony was held at Irwin Barracks, home of 13th Brigade, on Tuesday 5 July 2022 to celebrate the raising. The Ceremony also honoured the…

Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO, DSC, has officially transferred command of the Royal Australian Air Force to Air Marshal Robert Chipman AM, CSC. The formal change of command ceremony took place today at Sir Thomas Blamey Square, Russell Offices. Change of command ceremonies provide an opportunity to…

Defence has recently advised the Government of an issue affecting the Guardian class patrol boats Australia has delivered to Pacific Island nations through the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP). The issue involves a potential fault in the exhaust system. Under the PMSP, the Guardian Class…

Approximately 1600 Australian Defence Force personnel have joined 26 international partners to undertake the world’s largest international maritime exercise. Held across training areas in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California from 29 June to 4 August 2022, Exercise Rim of the…

The Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sunday 3rd July.  The Fleet Air Arm provides the Navy with aviation capabilities to fight and win at sea. Commander Fleet Air Arm, Commodore David Frost said the Fleet Air Arm had proved itself time and time…

Exercise Pitch Black will once again return to the Top End this year, with Australian and international military aircraft training over the Northern Territory from 19 August until 8 September. This exercise is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) most significant International Engagement…

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, celebrated the graduation and Commissioning of Army’s next generation of leaders at Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D) on Tuesday. The Chief and the Corps of Staff Cadets were joined by foreign dignitaries, Army leaders, as well as…

The officers and sailors of Royal Australian Navy operational support base HMAS Cairns have conducted a Freedom of Entry march through their namesake city. Commanding Officer HMAS Cairns, Commander Alfonso Santos, said the event was a reminder of the strong connection Navy personnel have with…

This year the Australian Army celebrates its 25th year of providing support to remote First Nations communities through the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP). AACAP is a joint initiative between Army and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) which sees Army…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has concluded its third biennial Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC), following a six-month long series of exercises throughout Australia. AWIC22 integrated warfighting functions across a range of specialisations to develop expert air warfare instructors who…

A contingent of specialist Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in Vietnam to participate in Pacific Partnership 2022. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific region, with…

Five Royal Australian Navy ships will set sail from Australia over the next three weeks for regional presence deployments throughout the Indo-Pacific region. HMA ships Canberra, Waramunga and Supply will participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022 (RIMPAC 22), in and around the Hawaiian Islands…

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have touched down in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to support the country’s national elections. At the request of the Government of PNG, more than 130 ADF personnel will provide capabilities to support the 2022 national elections – deployed under ADF Operation…

A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft has deployed to India under a combined India-Australia maritime surveillance initiative. India and Australia will conduct activities in the Indian Ocean Region to build operational maritime domain awareness, practise anti-submarine warfare…

Defence advises that on 26 May 2022, a RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft during a routine maritime surveillance activity in international airspace in the South China Sea region. The intercept resulted in a dangerous manoeuvre which posed a…

Defence is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Intelligence Collection Vessel operating off the north-west shelf of Australia. Defence can confirm the vessel is a PLA-N, Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing. The Haiwangxing travelled down the west coast of…

Soldiers from the Army’s 11th Brigade will soon arrive in Toowoomba for a week-long training exercise aimed at improving joint procedures with representatives of the Queensland Police Service (QPS).   EXERCISE ARRAS SPRINT 2022 will see approximately 100 Army personnel deployed to the area as…

A record number of Defence industry businesses and international naval delegations will participate in the Indo Pacific 2022 International Maritime Exposition in Sydney this week. More than 700 defence industry businesses and military delegations from more than 40 nations are expected to…

For the first time, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has conducted air-to-air refuelling flight testing with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF, or Koku-Jieitai). Conducted in April over three weeks, the flight test engineering program in Japan involved a RAAF KC-30A multi-role tanker…

Australia is committed to deepening bilateral ties with its regional and strategic partners, including the shared and growing peacekeeping relationship with Vietnam. In recent years, Australia has supported Vietnam’s peacekeeping mission to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) through…

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has decommissioned Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Maitland at a ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin, following 16 years of service. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN, recognised the service of the ship’s company. “HMAS Maitland and the men…

On Anzac Day, at memorials and ceremonies across the country, and around the world, we remember those who served our nation when they were called to do so. We honour the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) that lives on today. Defence…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has successfully completed the first two exercises in the 2022 Diamond Series for the third biennial Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC). Exercise Diamond Shield, the second of the three exercises, concluded in April 2022. AWIC aims to provide commanders with…

Since 27 February, more than 4000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have deployed on Operation Flood Assist 2022 in the northern New South Wales area supporting emergency services and local communities in the response and recovery from two catastrophic flood events. As the ADF has continued…

Defence is strengthening its science and technology workforce by selecting 80 of Australia’s brightest minds to be fast-tracked into leadership positions. The NAVIGATE program provides a pathway for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) specialists to transition into Defence, or…