The Australian Government will recommend to the Governor-General a number of senior Australian Defence Force appointments. Air Marshal Mark Binskin AC will become Chief of the Defence Force when General David Hurley AC, DSC completes his tenure on 3 July 2014. Air Marshal Binskin has demonstrated
The personnel of the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base West (FBW) resupplied and helped HMAS Toowoomba, which is tasked to search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, to return to sea in under six hours. Toowoomba was tasked to Operation SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN (Op SIO) from operations in northern
Up to eight planes and nine ships will assist in today’s search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has determined a search area of about 223,000 square kilometres, 1680 kilometres west north-west of Perth. Eight military planes will assist in the s
Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison MP, participated in a keel laying ceremony on March 31st for the sixth Cape Class Patrol Boat being manufactured at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. The vessel, Cape Leveque, is the sixth of eight Cape Class
On March 31, Major General (MAJGEN) Tim Gall became the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand. At a Change of Command parade held at Trentham MAJGEN Gall was promoted to his new rank and took command of Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand (HQ JFNZ). MAJGEN Gall was raised in Invercargill and Nelson
A ceremony was held yesterday at Australian company, Marand, commemorating the delivery of the first ship of Australian made F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter vertical tails. The Honourable Dr. Denis Napthine, Premier of Victoria, and The Honourable Michael Ronaldson, Senator for Victoria rep
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Toowoomba departed Fleet Base West near Perth on 29 March, to join the international search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The Anzac-class frigate has been diverted from other operational tasks to join the search. It will carry a S-70B2 Seahawk helicopter whi
Today’s search and recovery operation in the Australian Search and Rescue Region for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is scheduled to commence about 9 am AEDT this morning. The search activities will involve a total of 10 ships and 10 aircraft, Australian Maritime Safety Authority 8AMSA) said in a rel
The seminar component of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 2014 wrapped up today after a couple of days of intensive discussion and exchange of ideas by delegates of member nations and observers. The IONS seminar, which was held in Perth after the RAN assumed chairmanship of IONS from the So
The search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been updated after a new credible lead was provided to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). As a result today’s search will shift to an area 1,100 kilometres to the north east based on updated advice provided by the interna
In an effort to pinpoint the exact location Malaysian Air MH370 landed in the Indian Ocean, U.S. 7th Fleet is sending a second P-8 Poseidon Patrol aircraft to Perth, Australia to aid in the search efforts. The P-8 will fly from Okinawa, Japan to Perth on March 28 to join an international coalition
The 2014 Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) got underway in Perth on March 26 as ‘the weight’ was officially handed from outgoing chair the South African Navy (SAN) to the Royal Australian Navy. IONS, which was established in 2008, is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime coopera
The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, and the Assistant Minister for Defence, Mr Stuart Robert today announced a multimillion dollar investment to develop future defence technology in Australia. Up to $13 million has been committed under Round 18 of the Capability and Techno
The first major joint amphibious exercise for the year, Exercise Sea Dawn, is underway in North Queensland, Australia. It is scheduled to continue until 17 April. Over the next few weeks, approximately 450 Australian Navy, Army and Air Force personnel will rehearse amphibious operations in the Hal
