Defence Australia

02/06/2026

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.

02/06/2026

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

Australia’s maritime frontline has been further strengthened with the commissioning of the Royal 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.

📷 ABIS Jayden Fahy

01/06/2026

Air Meets Infantry

Australian Army personnel from the 16th Aviation Brigade and the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conducted integration training in 📍 Sydney, NSW.

The training saw infantry soldiers integrate with the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to conduct familiarisation training which enables them to support future operations.

📷 CPL B Spencer

31/05/2026

Operation Solania is the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to maritime surveillance within the Pacific region, working in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to support Pacific Island nations.

In May, under Solania, the ADF supported the FFA's second maritime surveillance operation for 2026, Operation Tui Moana, in the 📍 Cook Islands and Tonga.

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan air mobility aircraft, crew and support personnel from No. 35 Squadron were deployed for the operation.

📷 LACW Maddison Scott & CPL Cameron Pegg

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, FFA

31/05/2026

Soldier recognised for lifesaving act

Seeing an attack on a dark highway was not what Corporal Joshua Smith expected to find while driving late one night.

He was driving to visit a friend in hospital at 11.30pm, when he noticed a car stopped on the North-South Motorway near Wingfield, South Australia, on August 15, 2022.

“I actually thought it was a flat tyre or a hit-and-run,” Corporal Smith said. Initially, he stopped beside the woman and asked if she needed help, but after getting little response, he started driving away.

“I was like, ‘I don't really have time for this’, and I started driving, and then something just told me that I needed to stop,” he said.

So, he pulled over about 30 metres ahead and walked back towards the vehicle.

Read more ➡️ http://spr.ly/6182B8j95o

30/05/2026

It's all about the fundamentals

During Exercise Menin Blade, Australian Army personnel from 5th Brigade enhanced their warfighting fundamentals, progressing from section-level to platoon and combat team scenarios while refining their corps-specific and core warfighting skills.

The 5th Brigade trains foundational skills to prepare its soldiers, senior NCOs and officers for war, in line with the 2nd Divisions mission to generate land capabilities for the joint force and to command assigned contingency response forces to meet directed domestic operational requirements.

Read more ➡️ http://spr.ly/6180B8wWpn

📷 CPL Michael Rogers

30/05/2026

Warramunga 🔄 Ballarat

The Australian Navy's HMAS Warramunga (II) and HMAS Ballarat II have swapped crews so that Ballarat can stay in the East, while Warramunga heads West for deep level maintenance. 🤝⚓

A ceremony was held on the flight deck of HMAS Ballarat to mark the occasion where an exchange of the ship's weight took place and the crews swapped hats and patches.

Royal Australian Navy

29/05/2026

Shine bright like a 💎

Exercise Diamond Shield is a Force Level Integration exercise focused on Integrated Air Missile Defence. It forms part of the Air Warfare Instructor Course, providing commanders with tactical leaders and Air Domain Integrators in support of the Joint Force.

Exercise Diamond Shield builds on Exercise Aces Alpha, a two-week Defensive Counter Air integration activity.

The Air Warfare Instructor Course runs from December 2025 to June 2026 and includes academic briefings, along with the Diamond-series of exercises conducted across Australia at Royal Australian Air Force bases, training ranges, and within military airspace.

📷 LACW Aiesha White-Kratz

29/05/2026

28/05/2026

Proud to serve 🇦🇺

Assistant Weapons Engineering Officer, Sub Lieutenant Samuel Mendiola Urzua, aboard the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Toowoomba, arrived in Australia from Mexico when he was just two years old.

Having recently completed HMAS Toowoomba’s 2026 Regional Presence Deployment throughout East and Southeast Asia, he declares it’s a matter of pride to serve the country that has given his family so much.

“Joining the defence force has been about giving back to a country that has given so much to me and my family.”

“This is a beautiful country, I loved growing up here, I loved having the privilege to be here, so when I joined the Australian Defence Force it was to help maintain the status quo, keeping Australia the country, I know and love.”

Read more ➡️ http://spr.ly/6187B8kpSP

📷 LSIS Zac Di**le