Australia

Three Americans were killed after their C-130 plane crashed during a firefighting mission in Australia. The crash took place on Thursday afternoon (Australia time). Pending next-of-kin notification, the names of the three firefighters have not been released. According to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the mission of the C-130 was to drop fire retardant […]

A legendary Special Air Service (SAS) operator and assault team leader during the famous Iranian Embassy hostage rescue has passed away. Command Sergeant Major Tom MacDonald died at the age of 71 in New Zealand where he had retired to. The SAS operator had a long and illustrious career in the British Army. He first […]

An Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) operator and the most decorated Australian soldier alive has sued three newspapers for defamation over war crimes allegations. Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith is suing The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times and The Age for accusing him of war crimes. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is investigating Cpl. Roberts-Smith and […]

Reconnaissance soldiers from the 2nd Battalion (Amphibious), The Royal Australian Regiment, exercised as part of a simulated Amphibious Ready Group in North Queensland from 18-22 November 2019. The soldiers conducted conventional amphibious reconnaissance, security and raiding tasks throughout North Queensland to prepare them to conduct Combined and Joint Task Force operations, and maintain combat readiness […]

An Australian who was recently released by the Taliban believes that SEAL Team 6 came agonizingly close to rescuing him six times. Timothy Week, an Australian teacher, was abducted, alongside his American colleague Kevin King, from Kabul in 2016. He was released after the U.S. and Australian governments struck a hostage exchange deal with the […]

Anyone who loves history comes to learn that it is messy.  They must not only accept this reality, but learn to embrace it. Unlike an epic saga, history is only of value when it is presented to us with “the bark on…” This becomes even more important when dealing with pivotal events. One such for […]

A huge war-crimes scandal is rocking the Australian Special Operations community. According to reports, Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and 2nd Commando Regiment operators are under scrutiny for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan that took place between June and November 2012. More than a dozen active and former operators, to include high ranking officers, have […]

The Royal Australian Air Force is no stranger to dramatic displays of their low-flying prowess over cities like Brisbane, often drawing headlines the world over with the spectacular images and videos captured by awe-struck spectators. However, until now, only a precious few aviators have seen what it looks like inside the cockpit of these aircraft […]

Admittedly, I’d rather not be shot with either, but if I had to choose, I’d take a round from the AK-47 over the M4 any day of the week. To add a caveat to that statement, I’m talking from relatively close range here—say up to 150-200 meters. To understand why, it’s important to first take […]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQrmMQ7Wptc   U.S. and Australian Special Operations Forces (SOF) conduct a military freefall parachute insertion at night with zero natural illumination from 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) altitude, July 2019 during Talisman Sabre. By inserting behind enemy lines SOF conduct surveillance and reconnaissance to enable precision targeting. Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise that tests the […]

In an attempt to solidify its position as the premier Spec Ops force in the Indo-Pacific, the Australian Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) will be receiving a $3 billion boost to enhance its technological, infrastructural, and manpower capabilities. More specifically, the Australian government greenlighted the funds, which will be distributed over a period of 20 years. This, […]

Within mere hours of a group of terrorists hijacking a passenger ferry in Sydney’s Middle Harbour, Australian commandos were already above and beside their target. Six rigid-hulled inflatable boats packed with operators whizzed toward the ship. In the sky, a flock of Blackhawk helicopters circled to fast-rope additional assault teams and provide critical aerial sniper […]