The Australian Army has been testing its latest range of capabilities during a land trial exercise in Townville over the last month. The Land Trial involved over 200 people from Army’s 3rd Brigade, 6th Brigade and 17th Brigade, Defence Science and Technology, Defence Industry Division and the…

International military teams have flown into Sydney for the first ever Military International Drone Racing Tournament (MIDRT), to be hosted at Victoria Barracks in Sydney between 18­–21 October 2018. Teams from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, The United Arab Emirates, United…

Defence congratulates Warrant Officer Class 2 Shane Cox (Army), Specialist Recruiter Indigenous, on being shortlisted for the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) Diversity Champion Award. Shane is one of three contenders for the AHRI Award, which recognises role models who champion and drive…

Defence has commenced the next stage of the Defence Site Maribyrnong sale process, with today’s launch of the marketing campaign, seeking Registrations of Interest. Defence is selling the 128-hectare parcel of land with extensive river frontage, located 10 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, which…

MEL HUPFELD:                Good morning ladies and gents. It's great to have a chance to meet you, today. We haven't had an opportunity to talk about our operations update for some time so for me as the new Chief of Joint…

On 11 October 2018 The Australian published an article entitled: “A load of Kabul: Pyne war claim rejected”. The Department of Defence can advise that the Minister’s comments on the security situation within areas of Afghanistan that our personnel are working were accurate.  The Department of…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) continues to support the United Nation’s peacekeeping efforts in the South Sudan. The ADF has worked alongside regional partners, most recently Vietnam, to contribute to the mission. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is utilising a C-17A Globemaster…

A multinational response to a regional security threat is the focus of the latest military exercise to involve all three Services of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This year 750 ADF personnel will participate in BERSAMA LIMA 18 conducted in Malaysia, Singapore and over the South China Sea from…

HMAS Ballarat has returned to port after participating in a search and rescue mission for two solo round-the-world yachtsmen.   Ballarat’s MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopter recovered Irish national, Mr Gregor McGuckin, from a French scientific research station on Amsterdam Island after he was…

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is continuing to assist the international search and rescue operation for two yachtsmen following significant damage to their vessels, approximately 1800 nautical miles off the West Australian coast. The French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris …

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is assisting in the search and rescue effort for an injured solo yachtsman, approximately 1800 nautical miles off the West Australian coast. The sailor, an officer in the Indian Navy, was competing in the Golden Globe Race. It is understood he suffered a serious…

The Chief of Army’s annual military skills competition, Exercise Hydra, has come to an end after a week of activities designed to test teamwork, physical stamina and mental rigour. Seven teams drawn from Brisbane’s 7th Combat Brigade, who hosted this year’s event, competed against five…

Australia and Japan have postponed the inaugural Exercise BUSHIDO GUARDIAN, following the Hokkaido earthquake on 6 September.   Australia looks forward to rescheduling BUSHIDO GUARDIAN with Japan at a mutually convenient time in the future.   BUSHIDO GUARDIAN, a jet-fighter exercise…

The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO, DSC, MVO today met with Military Commanders from Japan and the United States, for the sixth annual Trilateral Senior Level Seminar (TSLS) in Adelaide, South Australia. The seminar facilitated strategic-level dialogue between the…

Indonesia will host Australia for Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 18 that will test each nation’s airlift capability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indonesian Air Force will use their C-130J Hercules aircraft to participate…

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) today welcomed thousands of prospective trainee officers, their families and friends, and members of the local community to its annual open day. As Australia’s joint military training institution, ADFA opens its doors each year on the last Saturday in…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed its final two port visits as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) 2018, marking the conclusion of a three month journey across the Pacific, working with Pacific Island partners in support of regional prosperity and security.  HMA Ships …

The capability of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), including the DJI Phantom 4 and the Black Hornet, were on display today at Randwick Barracks as the Australian Army continues to roll out the technology across the country.Sydney-based personnel of the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade (17 CSS BDE…

The Australian Defence Force’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour Task Group (IPE18) has assisted the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in rescuing four seriously injured people after a violent incident occurred in an outlying part of the country. The incident occurred on Bellona Island, about 200…

Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) is making its way to two of Australia’s closest Pacific partners, in a demonstration of Australia’s commitment to the region.HMA Ships Adelaide and Toowoomba are on their way to the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara; and concurrently, HMAS …

The Australian Army and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have today announced a partnership that will involve a collaborative approach to advancing human performance practices. The two organisations will share facilities and knowledge through combined activities to focus on improving the…

The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft has delivered 100,000,000 pounds of fuel during air-to-air refuel missions on Operation OKRA in the Middle East.The epic milestone was reached on the 6th August 2018, during a routine air-to-air refuelling mission. The KC-…

Defence personnel last week celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Garma Festival, Australia’s premier Indigenous event, in Gulkula, north-east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The Garma Festival, held from 3-6 August 2018 and hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, is a key community engagement…

Five employers from across the Australian Capital Territory and South East New South Wales (ACT & SE NSW) were recognised for their support of Australian Defence Force Reservists at the Defence Reserves Support Council’s annual Employer Support Awards event. The ceremony, held in Canberra on 9…

Reports regarding Defence requiring the use of gender-neutral language are wrong. ADFA Cadets are not being told that they should not use terms like him or her. As was explained to the journalist prior to publishing, the Department has not, and is not intending, to issue a directive on the use of…

The Department of Defence would like to provide the following statement on behalf of the family of Mr Harch. “We wish to express our deep gratitude and thanks to New Zealand authorities and volunteer services in rescuing and caring for Mr Harch.  We would particularly like to thank the New…

Top End skies will start filling with international military aircraft as the Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Pitch Black starts in the Northern Territory today. Exercise Pitch Black is the RAAF’s biennial, capstone international engagement activity with air forces participating from a…

  Joint media release:  Australian Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC Commander in Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC and his counterpart, Commander in Chief…

Australian soldiers arrived in Chiang Mai Province in Thailand on Monday 9 July to conduct jungle warfare training with the Royal Thai Army as part of Exercise Chapel Gold 2018. The 11-day exercise runs from 9 to 20 July and is hosted by the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the…

The Australian Defence Force has a new Chief after Air Chief Marshal Binskin handed over command to General Angus Campbell at a ceremony in Canberra today. The newly promoted General Campbell thanked Air Chief Marshal Binskin for his 40 years’ service in the Australian Defence Force. “The work that…