Defence Australia @DefenceAust

Steel fixed, mind focused ⚔️ Soldiers from the @AustralianArmy's 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment recently conducted live-fire and bayonet training during Exercise Bardia at 📍 Puckapunyal Military Area, VIC. The activity strengthened section-level combat skills, aggression in close combat, weapons proficiency and teamwork in a field training environment. #YourADF #AusArmy

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That is a wrap on ASWEX 2026 ⚓ The realistic and complex nature of the @Australian_Navy’s annual Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEX) gave Australian and Japanese participants the ideal environment to hone operational skills and build capabilities. 🇦🇺 🇯🇵 Commander of the Australia Maritime Task Group Captain Darin MacDonald praised all units involved for their dedication to practising and perfecting skills during the week-long activity off 📍 Australia’s east coast. “From ships to helicopters to submarines, to Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and a Japanese frigate, all involved were focused on honing our best practice and practising real-world tactics,” Captain MacDonald said. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6019B82J27 #YourADF #AusNavy #StrongerTogether @JMSDF_PAO

Strengthening partnerships 🇦🇺 🤝 🇸🇧 Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Constables Melville Manetoea and Justin Apa underwent a @Australian_Navy training package at 📍 HMAS Cerberus, VIC. Working closely with Australian partners, both officers demonstrated their expertise across a range of technical and operational tasks, highlighting the value of real-world training in strengthening readiness and professionalism. The training package was conducted under the Solomon Islands-Australia Defence Cooperation Program, underlining ongoing support for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, reinforcing strong partnerships and a shared commitment to community safety and security. #YourADF #StrongerTogether

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Sky high connections 🛫 At 30,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, sharing information to a network is just as critical as it is when you’re on the ground. Last month, aviators from Australia and Japan shared information through the tactical battlefield network during a unique airborne exercise. The exercise involved a @AusAirForce P-8A Poseidon and a @JASDF_PAO Kawasaki RC-2 aircraft, each flying from air bases in 📍 Japan. ➡️ spr.ly/6014B808n8 #YourADF #AusAirForce #StrongerTogether

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Raising capability across the Pacific 🇦🇺 🇵🇬 🇫🇯 🇹🇴 Senior military leaders from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga have visited a Pacific-led police program in Brisbane that provides specialist training to hundreds of officers from 22 nations across the Pacific. For many of the police men and women undertaking the intensive 24-week course, it is the first time out of their country. And for some, a challenge to travel to Australia. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6016B806Wa #YourADF #StrongerTogether

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Timor-Leste in the Top End Two officers and two sailors from the naval component of the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) visited 📍 Darwin to gain experience and build relationships with the @Australian_Navy. Australia’s longstanding Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) with Timor-Leste facilitated the placements at HMAS Coonawarra. 🚢 The four personnel participated in exchange program activities and toured the facilities. ➡️ spr.ly/6017B8qCoH #YourADF #AusNavy

Saving lives on tomorrow’s battlefield — today. @AustralianArmy medical experts from the 2nd Health Battalion conducted simulated surgery during Exercise Viper Walk, testing deployable field hospitals, forward surgical care and cutting‑edge technology in demanding conditions. From urban environments to advanced diagnostics, Army health teams continue to innovate, ensuring they’re ready to deliver life-saving care to service members when it’s needed most. ➡️ spr.ly/6015B8qASR #YourADF #AusArmy

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King’s Birthday military honours list The list recognises work across a wide range of areas, from shipbuilding and engineering to operations and international peacekeeping, ADF members from Navy, Army and Air Force have been recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday military honours list. This year, 97 ADF members have received honours for distinguished and conspicuous service. Recipients range in rank from leading seaman to rear admiral, reflecting contributions made at every level of the Australian Defence Force. Congratulations to all 👏 Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6017B8xipc #YourADF

Sister ships provide and protect at sea HMAS Supply has conducted a replenishment at sea with @JMSDF_PAO frigate JS Kumano during Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEX). The complex at-sea evolution demonstrated the interoperability of Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships working in company with Mogami-class frigates, reinforcing the @Australian_Navy’s ability to sustain integrated, partnered operations at sea. Australia and Japan have signed contracts to deliver an initial three general-purpose frigates based on the enhanced Mogami-class design, with the first ship scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6011B8q4Pf #YourADF @ModJapan_jp @ModJapan_en

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@jointstaffpa @INDOPACOM @TeamAFP 👏

Today, on National Military Working Dog Day, we pause to honour our four-legged heroes. 🐾 Since World War I, Military Working Dogs (MWDs) have stood bravely alongside our Australian Defence Force personnel. From the jungles of Vietnam to the harsh terrain of Afghanistan, they have been far more than just working dogs – they are protectors, lifesavers and mates. To the dogs who made the ultimate sacrifice, those enjoying a well-earned retirement, and those on duty: thank you. Your service and unconditional love will never be forgotten. ❤️🐕 #YourADF

Before deploying to Papua New Guinea for Operation Render Safe 2026, Australian Defence Force personnel and multinational partners have been putting the final pieces in place during force preparation activities at the 6th Engineer Support Regiment in Amberley. ADF personnel will partner with the 🇵🇬 and military representatives from 🇨🇦, 🇫🇷, 🇯🇵, 🇳🇿, 🇬🇧 and 🇺🇸. The combined teams will deploy to the Gazelle, Kokopo and Rabaul districts in East New Britain Province to locate and safely dispose of World War II explosive remnants of war. #YourADF

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To infinity and beyond 🛰️ The Australian Defence Force has marked a major milestone, formally accrediting its first group of space operations officers and specialists through a new joint training program. Sixteen @Australian_Navy, @AustralianArmy and @AusAirForce members graduated from the first Space Initial Employment Training Course in 📍 Canberra last month. ➡️ spr.ly/6012B8oMLj #YourADF

Sending the thunder ⚡ When the first Australian-made AS9 Huntsman fired on its distant target, you’d have been forgiven for mistaking it for cracks of thunder, which is fitting considering the name of its Korean predecessor, Hanwha’s ‘K9 Thunder’. Thirty gunners from Townsville’s 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, fired the new domestically produced AS9 self-propelled howitzers at the conclusion of a six-week course at the School of Artillery in 📍 Puckapunyal, VIC. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6019B8q0T9 #YourADF @AustralianArmy

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Forged in Fire: Diamond Spear Tests Airpower at the Highest Level Conducted over several weeks from RAAF Bases Amberley, Williamtown, Tindal, Edinburgh and @hqjoc, Exercise Diamond Spear marked the third major milestone of the demanding six-month Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC). Long-range maritime strike was a key focus of Exercise Diamond Spear, building complexity from previous Diamond series activities. The complexity of the exercise demanded a high level of integration across numerous air domain capabilities to deliver mission success. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6019B8lAs7 #YourADF #AusAirForce

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Training for a battlefield shaped from above ⬆️ On Operation Kudu, @AustralianArmy soldiers are delivering training that reflects the realities of modern warfare, where drones influence how soldiers move, fight and survive. Training focuses on: 🚁 Counter‑drone awareness 👀 Operating under constant observation 🪏 Trench warfare movement 🩹 Prolonged casualty care planning These scenarios prepare leaders to make decisions under pressure before they return to the front line. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6010B8cRfi #YourADF #AusArmy @DefenceU

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After four months supporting Australia’s near continuous presence in the Indo Pacific, HMAS Toowoomba returned home to Fleet Base West in late May. ⚓️🇦🇺 Departing in January, Toowoomba travelled more than 28,500 nautical miles (52,782 kilometres) – equivalent to sailing around Australia’s coastline twice – across East and South-East Asia, visiting six regional partners: 🇮🇩 @_TNIAL_, 🇵🇭 @Philippine_Navy, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇯🇵 @JMSDF_PAO, 🇻🇳 Vietnam and 🇸🇬 @mindefsg. ➡️ spr.ly/6013B8lgXW #YourADF #AusNavy @UN

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🇦🇺 🇯🇵 Cyber ties deepen Australia-Japan partnership Australia and Japan have further strengthened their defence partnership through an engagement focused on cyber operations and command, control, communications and computers (C4) interoperability. Head of Cyber Operations and Strategic J6 Major General Warren Gould hosted his Japanese counterpart, Director General C4 Systems Department Major General Akitsugu Kimura, during a recent visit to Australia. The visit marked Major General Kimura’s first engagement in Australia since his appointment as Director General C4 Systems Department. Since 2014, the Australian Defence Force and the @ModJapan_jp have engaged in cyber domain and C4 discussions, leading to the establishment of the annual Australia-Japan Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Cooperation Forum. Enhancing bilateral secure communications was a key planning outcome of the visit, along with alignment of ICT priorities across enterprise and warfighting communications and information systems. Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6013B8cjfS #YourADF @ModJapan_en @jointstaffpa @AusAmbJPN @JPEmbassyAU

This year’s theme, ‘All In’, encouraged all Australians to commit to reconciliation through everyday actions and sustained effort, both within Defence and across the broader community. #NRW2026 #AllIn

Australia’s maritime frontline has been further strengthened with the commissioning of @Australian_Navy's HMAS Eyre into the fleet in a ceremony at 📍 Fleet Based West. HMAS Eyre is the second of six planned Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (ACOPV) to enter service, following the commissioning of sister ship HMAS Arafura in 2025. With a range of 4,000 nautical miles, the 80-metre long ACOPV will help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the Evolved Cape class patrol boats. Together, they conduct a wide range of operations, including maritime border patrol, fisheries protection and humanitarian and disaster relief. #YourADF #AusNavy

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