2019

The first of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) new Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft arrived in Canberra today. The new aircraft, being leased by RAAF, replace the Bombardier CL604 Challengers and provide a larger passenger load, modern communication and increased range and endurance. Wing Commander Jason Pont, Commanding Officer of 34 Squadron said the Falcon complements RAAF’s larger Boeing 737 […]

WHILE sailing over the Indian Ocean en route to Sri Lanka aboard HMAS Canberra, Private Michael Amarasinghe said he was looking to find a missing link in his life.  “I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, although my family and I left there more than 30 years ago,” Private Amarasinghe said.   “I live in Sydney, and […]

Force generation activity Exercise Regimen White 19 took place at RAAF Base Amberley from March 11-26 and was the biggest iteration of the exercise yet. For Regimen White, Health Services Wing (HSW) brought together the entire Wing for a bigger and better training experience to practise Air Force’s niche health capability: the Aeromedical Evacuation (AME) […]

Standing among doctors, physicians and primary health care practitioners, it looks, smells and feels like any other hospital – but it is floating on the ocean. The primary casualty reception facility on board HMAS Canberra is a hive of activity, with the tri-service team providing primary health care and maintenance of the ship’s company and embarked forces […]

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) , have swapped the jungles of Sri Lanka for the seas of India as they continue their training mission during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE19). Working alongside the diggers aboard HMAS Canberra were some of Sri Lanka’s finest troops, including ground forces of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. […]

Indian and Australian air crews highlighted their navies’ interoperability during AUSINDEX in the Bay of Bengal recently. An MRH-90 from HMAS Canberra and an MH-60R from HMAS Parramatta landed on the frigate Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri and the corvette INS Kiltan, while a Sea King from INS Sahyadri and a Chetak from INS Kiltan cross-decked to the Australian ships. Parramatta’s Flight Commander Lieutenant Commander Damian Liberale […]

During the Rapid Force Projection conference at the Australian Defence Force Academy, speakers recounted a range of past examples of deployments – both short notice and forecast. The conference was opened by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral David Johnston, who highlighted the need to think creatively about how Defence addresses rapid […]

Replacing a wounded ally resulted in an Australian brigadier making history during one of the most turbulent periods in Afghanistan’s recent history. Brigadier John Shanahan became the first non-US commander of the 11,000-strong Train Advise Assist Command – South (TAAC-S) since the Resolute Support mission began in January 2015. He led TAAC-S for five months […]

A powerful tribute to Indigenous participation in the Defence of Australia will greet Defence personnel and visitors to the Department of Defence’s  headquarters in Russell, Canberra. Unveiled to the public for the first time, Kulatangku angakanyini manta munu Tjukurpa (‘Country and culture will be protected by spears’) was painted by artists from the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara […]

A classroom full of bright eyes and beaming smiles greeted members of the Indo-Pacific Endeavour Joint Task Force when they visited the Government Children’s Home for Boys in Visakhapatnam, India. A Royal Australian Navy aircraft technician, Able Seaman Nick Smith, was immediately surrounded by children as young as nine who were keen to shake hands, […]