Defence Australia

723 Squadron celebrates flying milestone

At HMAS Albatross in Nowra, 723 Squadron has soared past a remarkable aviation milestone, recording an impressive 50,000 flying hours on the EC-135 helicopter fleet. This achievement marks another proud chapter for a squadron that has been shaping ADF aviators since 1952.

The achievement represents far more than hours in the air. It reflects the combined efforts of a dedicated and diverse team who enable safe and effective flying operations every day.

Over the years, 723 Squadron has delivered thousands of training sorties, supporting the development of Navy and Army aircrew who will go on to serve in operational aviation units across Australia and overseas.

These flying hours represent the squadron’s unwavering commitment to producing highly skilled aviators capable of meeting the evolving needs of the ADF.

Read more ➡️ www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-27/723…

#YourADF

Skip the Carousel

1 2

12 hours ago | [YT] | 157

Defence Australia

"What we do in life echoes in eternity" ⚓
 
During a special ceremony held aboard HMAS Sydney V, Russell Crowe was appointed an honorary Commander in the Royal Australian Navy.
 
The honorary rank was bestowed upon Mr. Crowe by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN in recognition of his enduring advocacy for the Royal Australian Navy, and his contribution to public understanding through storytelling and support to the Defence community.
 
Russell’s contributions across film, sport and public advocacy have honoured Navy’s story with authenticity and lasting commitment. BZ!
 
📷 ABIS Taylor Johnson
 
#YourADF #AusNavy

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 day ago | [YT] | 330

Defence Australia

4 days ago | [YT] | 140

Defence Australia

A wonderful recipient 🐾

On February 24, explosive detection dog Florence “Flo Joe” was honoured with the Animal Distinguished Service Award at the 📍 Australian War Memorial, ACT.

Flo Joe was selected for the award – which recognises exceptional service by animals on operations – for her service in Afghanistan, where she completed four deployments between 2007 and 2012, spending more than half of her service in a warlike environment.

She achieved the highest number of finds within her dog section during one rotation and was the first Australian explosive detection dog to locate an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.

Read more ➡️ www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-26/dog…

📷 LAC Chris Tsakisiris

#YourADF #AusArmy

Skip the Carousel

1 2

5 days ago | [YT] | 522

Defence Australia

The Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Warramunga has arrived in 📍 Visakhapatnam, India, to participate in India's International Fleet Review (IFR) and Exercise MILAN 2026. 🇦🇺 🇮🇳

The IFR and MILAN are India’s most prominent multilateral maritime events, bringing together more than one hundred and thirty international partners and eighty-six ships and aircraft to promote shared security interests, enhance interoperability and reaffirm collective support for a global rules-based order.
 
This year's program will include air, surface, sub-surface and cross-deck exercises, alongside cultural and sporting engagements. The schedule will also feature a formal fleet review conducted by the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

📷 LSIS Abdus Chowdhury

#YourADF

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

6 days ago | [YT] | 384

Defence Australia

The backbone of a modern navy

Out of sight, but never out of mind. Stokers are the lifeblood of any modern navy.

Any time, day or night, Royal Australian Navy stokers quietly work unseen in the dark depths below deck, keeping ships on the move.

For Marine Technician Able Seaman Owen Bayard, there’s an immense sense of satisfaction in the anonymity of their service.

“It fills me with a lot of pride and responsibility in my work. It makes me feel good when I know the job I was given to do is done,” Able Seaman Bayard said.

“At the end of the day, no-one knew who Superman’s real identity was and he was able to live with it.”

HMAS Toowoomba sailed from Fleet Base West to carry out Regional Presence Deployment 2026-2. Throughout RPD-26-2, Toowoomba will operate alongside regional neighbours and partners to conduct training, overcome shared security challenges, and strengthen Australia's enduring commitment to a stable and secure Indo-Pacific.

Read more ➡️ www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-24/bac…

#YourADF

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

1 week ago | [YT] | 299

Defence Australia

Fueling 🆙

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force replenishment vessel JS Towada carried out a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with HMAS Toowoomba while on deployment in the East China Sea.
  
Regional Presence Deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment to, and engagement with, the region. The deployments play a vital role in Australia’s long-term security and prosperity by protecting Australia’s interests, preserving global a rules-based order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies, and developing capability and interoperability. 

📷 LEUT Marcus Middleton

#YourADF #AusNavy

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

1 week ago | [YT] | 333

Defence Australia

HMAS Toowoomba farewelled Indonesia following a port visit to Tanjung Priok, Jakarta from 3–6 February 2026 during Regional Presence Deployment 2026-2.
 
The visit was part of an ongoing program of defence diplomacy and maritime cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, featuring official ceremonies, courtesy calls, public engagement, cultural exchanges, and operational interactions.
 
The crew had close connections with officers and sailors of the Indonesian Navy, promoting cultural understanding and interoperability between close maritime partners.
 
📷 LSIS Zac Dingle
 
#YourADF #AusNavy

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

1 week ago | [YT] | 326

Defence Australia

Aussies come up aces in UK flight testing

Competitively drawn from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), four ADF officers graduated from the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) in the United Kingdom, completing one of the world’s most demanding and prestigious flight test training programs.

ETPS training combines advanced academic instruction with practical flight test activities, equipping graduates with the skills to plan, conduct, analyse and report on complex flight test programs.

Hosted in MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, United Kingdom, the course trains both military and civilian test pilots and flight test engineers with industry partner QinetiQ. Since its inception, the course has graduated more than 1500 students from across 32 nations.

Read more ➡️ www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-18/aus…

#YourADF

1 week ago | [YT] | 343

Defence Australia

Creating a self-sufficient city at sea 🌊

For life at sea, there is no such thing as ‘running down to the shops’ at the end of the day, which is why Navy’s maritime logistics (ML) department is under pressure to perform every time a vessel prepares to set sail.

After months of painstaking planning, the ML department on HMAS Toowoomba loaded their final stores for an upcoming regional presence deployment. 

Read more ➡️ www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-18/cre…

📷 LSIS Zac Dingle

#YourADF #AusNavy

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

1 week ago | [YT] | 341