The Australian Defence Force (ADF) stands with the Australian community to remember those who have served, and those who continue to serve, Australia and its national interests this Anzac Day. While the traditional public commemorative ceremonies and Anzac Day marches have been cancelled this year…

The story run by Channel 9 last night, Tuesday 14 April 2020, is misleading and incorrect. HMAS Watson has not been placed in lockdown for COVID-19, nor any other reason.  Members living on base are not confined, however they are following the direction of the Federal and NSW…

Joint Statement - Department of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Today, the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs received the Report of the Victorian Coroner, Coroner Jacqui Hawkins of the Findings of the Inquest into the Death of Jesse Bird. Mr Jesse Bird was an Australian Army…

The Australian Defence Force has contributed to the ongoing fight against illegal fishing in the Southwest Pacific through the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency’s (FFA) Operation RAI BALANG. A Royal Australian Air Force B300 King Air and C-27J Spartan, and the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS…

The RAAF Heritage Awards is a literature competition designed to enhance the records of the Air Force and foster interest in its history and heritage. In a break from previous years, the 2021 round will seek entries that highlight areas of the Air Force’s history, which have not been thoroughly…

The Australian Army is proud to announce the 2020 Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) Champion Shot of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been awarded to Lance Corporal Nicholas Latham from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. AASAM is an important annual event for Army and the ADF which…

The replacement of the Army’s Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) through project LAND 129 Phase 3 has progressed to the tendering process. Four companies have been selected through an abbreviated Invitation To Register process and will be provided a detailed Request for Tender, to…

Defence is aware of the serious and disturbing story regarding the conduct of Australian Special Operations personnel in Afghanistan aired on the ABC’s Four Corners, 16 March 2020.  The Australian Army soldier referred to as ‘Soldier C’ in the Four Corners program has today been identified and…

Defence can confirm that a rocket attack occurred at the Taji Military Complex on Saturday 14 March 2020 at approximately midday local time. There are no Australian casualties, with all Australian Defence Force personnel confirmed as being safe. This is the second rocket attack at Taji this week…

Men and women from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have gathered at the Greenbank Training Area (GBTA) to compete in the ADF’s premier combat marksmanship competition, the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet (AASAM). Conducted annually by the Australian Army’s Combined Arms Training Centre, AASAM…

Defence can confirm a rocket attack occurred at the Taji Military Camp on the evening of 11 March 2020 (local time). There are no Australian casualties, with all Australian Defence Force personnel confirmed as being safe. Defence is closely monitoring the situation. The safety of our people is our…

Two members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are confirmed to have contracted the COVID-19 virus. Having tested positive to COVID-19, they have been isolated. Efforts to trace any contact are focussed on the two officers travelling to a meeting at Defence Headquarters, Russell, ACT on 28…

Defence has recently signed a $330 million dollar contract with Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd to deliver Joint Adversarial Training and Testing Services (JATTS) to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for a period of eight years. The JATTS contract consolidates three existing contracts that form the…

More than 330 future Australian Defence Force (ADF) leaders have today been formally welcomed to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) at the annual Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Parade. The latest group of Royal Australian Navy midshipmen, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force…

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…