It’s not every day you see a Black Hawk helicopter making its way through the streets of Canberra on the back of a truck.

But that’s what happened when a Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk – A25-112 – made its final journey to the Australian War Memorial after more than three decades of service.

Named ‘Saracen’, the helicopter is the first Black Hawk to be added to the Memorial’s collection.

It was gifted to the Memorial by the Department of Defence and is now housed at the Memorial’s Treloar Technology Centre in Mitchell.

Memorial Director Matt Anderson said the helicopter was a significant addition to the national collection.

“The iconic Black Hawk has been the work horse of the Australian Defence Force for a generation,” he said.

It was introduced in 1987 to replace the much- loved, but ageing Iroquois, and was not without a little controversy surrounding who should ‘own’ battlefield utility helicopters; the RAAF or the Army. “We will now embark on collecting the stories of Saracen and the broader Black Hawk community – both RAAF and Army – to ensure the service and sacrifice of a generation of Australians is told at the Memorial and, ultimately, be better understood and appreciated by all Australians.”

The Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk is a four- bladed, twin-engine, utility helicopter, typically providing air mobility for troops and equipment in a combat zone. Introduced into service with the Australian Defence Force in the late 1980s, the Black Hawk can also carry out aerial reconnaissance, observation, direction of artillery fire, casualty evacuation and aerial fire support.

When required, it plays a vital role in community support tasks such as search and rescue and the provision of humanitarian and natural disaster relief.

Their role in Australian service is very much about transport, whether it’s transport of people, transport of supplies, logistics, or whatever else it has to move. It’s all about getting what is needed, to the sometimes-inaccessible location where it’s needed, at the time when it’s desperately needed.

Australian Black Hawks have had a diverse operational history with the Australian Army’s 5th and 6th Aviation Regiments, deploying on peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and with specialist domestic counter-terrorism response units.

Black Hawk A25-112 has a significant operational history, having served on peacekeeping operations and humanitarian aid missions in Australia and overseas.

Saracen was one of the most heavily used aircraft – it was involved in a lot of peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, both in Australia and overseas – in New Guinea, Bougainville, East Timor, Pakistan – so it’s really covered the whole gamut. Its extensive deployment history is typical of the role Australian Black Hawks played.

Saracen was delivered to the 5th Aviation Regiment in 1989 and played a high-profile role in the aftermath of the 1999 East Timor referendum, participating in the subsequent deployment of the Australian-led peacekeeping task force, INTERFET.

It continued to support Australian operations in East Timor, deploying there again in 2004, 2008 and 2011, and provided humanitarian aid to Operations Pakistan Assist in 2006 and PNG Assist in 2007.  It also served in Bougainville as part of Operation Lagoon in 1994, and in Fiji as part of Operation Quickstep in 2006. Its last operational flight was in 2019.

Head curator Nick Fletcher at the Australian War memorial said “from a curatorial point of view, the work’s really just starting, we’ve jumped through all the hoops we needed to jump through to get the actual object, now’s the time to start talking to the veterans.

I don’t mean just the veterans who have flown the aircraft, but those who have supported it on the ground, and just as importantly, those who it was in service of, all those personnel who received supplies or assistance as a result of Black Hawk operations.

These large objects often speak to veterans in a way that perhaps just uniform and other things like that don’t. They are very much a touchstone for other stories…

So, there’s lots and lots of work – lots and lots of interviewing and discussions – to be done to find out the amazing stories behind it … and build up a much more complete story of what this aircraft has been up to.”‘

Israel may be plotting a significant military strike on Iran’s vital oil export hub, Kharg Island, in response to a recent missile barrage launched into Israeli territory. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have labelled the attacks, involving nearly 200 missiles, as a “severe and dangerous escalation” and issued a stern warning that “there will be consequences.”

As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to spiral, Israel’s potential target, Kharg Island, stands as a crucial asset for Iran. Approximately 90% of the country’s oil exports pass through this strategic location in the Persian Gulf, making it a pivotal part of Iran’s economy. If Israel strikes and significantly damages the infrastructure on Kharg Island, the disruption in Iran’s oil exports could reverberate across global oil markets.

Given Australia’s reliance on global oil supplies, a military strike of this magnitude could affect Australian fuel prices. A substantial reduction in Iran’s oil exports could lead to tighter global supply, raising crude oil prices worldwide. This could, in turn, drive up fuel prices in Australia, as the country imports the majority of its refined petroleum products.

During the 1980s, the United States was still struggling to come to grips with its involvement in the Vietnam War and as part of that effort, Hollywood churned out a number of movies with the conflict as its backdrop. For younger audiences especially, they provided an insight into what their fathers or older siblings may have experienced during their tours of duty in the jungles of southeast Asia. One of the most seminal pieces produced in this period was 1987’s Full Metal Jacket directed by legendary director Stanley Kubrick.

The film demonstrates the process of turning ordinary young men into weapons to be used in war and how that impacts them when they get to the battlefield. Thus, the movie starts in a US Marine boot camp and then transitions to the battlefield of Vietnam just as the Tet Offensive gets underway, the main characters fighting in the streets of a city called Hue. For countless young people at the time, this may have been the first time they would have heard of Hue or been made aware of the battle that was waged there but for the veterans who fought in its streets in early 1968, its name is as engrained on their memories as Iwo Jima or Inchon was to the generations that came prior. In this episode, we are going to look at the origins of the battle, chart some of the key events and discuss its aftermath. This is the story of the Battle of Hue.

Warrior, Soldier, Brigand by Ben Wadham and James Connor is the first independent study of institutional abuse within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Based on interviews with nearly 70 survivors and an analysis of 35 cultural reviews since Vietnam, the book exposes over a century of brutal, systematic abuse in the ADF. This includes bastardisation, sexual violence, and administrative abuse, where victims were often punished for reporting. The authors argue that the ADF’s internal culture fosters violence, misogyny, and elitism, weakening Australia’s defence capability and perpetuating trauma among its members.

CLICK LINK to read the article presented in THE CONVERSATION

‘Survival sex’, ‘mob justice’ and more: the first independent study of abuse in the Australian Defence Force is damning (theconversation.com)

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In recent days, Israel has escalated its military operations in Lebanon, particularly targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the south and eastern Beqaa Valley. The situation on the ground has rapidly deteriorated, with many observers considering it a full-scale war, even though official declarations have not been made. The bombardment of southern Lebanese towns and villages has been relentless, with hundreds of strikes each day. This has led to the destruction of roads, effectively isolating these regions from the rest of the country and forcing thousands of civilians to flee northward.

Despite debates in international and national security circles about whether the situation should be termed a “war,” the reality on the ground speaks for itself. Retired Lebanese General Wehbe Katicha has called the conflict “a full-scale war,” describing how it has evolved in phases since the initial attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. What started as rocket exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah has now escalated into daily airstrikes, with the number of casualties growing. This third phase, Katicha asserts, is the most devastating, with over 500 casualties reported in a single day of Israeli strikes.

The intensifying conflict has raised questions about the possibility of an Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon. Though Israel has not yet initiated such an operation, signs indicate it may be on the horizon. The Israeli Northern Command has warned that forces must be prepared for a ground offensive, with two reserve battalions already recruited. The goal would likely be to secure Israel’s northern border and enable displaced civilians to return to their homes. Major General Ori Gordin of the Israeli Northern Command has emphasized that the focus has been on significantly degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities, including its rocket systems and leadership.

The conflict has deeply affected the civilian population in Lebanon. Southern Lebanon, in particular, has been the epicentre of intense fighting, with homes and infrastructure damaged or destroyed by airstrikes. Roads have been blocked or destroyed, leaving only perilous routes available for civilians trying to flee to safer areas. In recent days, Israel has issued warnings to civilians to evacuate homes suspected of being used by Hezbollah to store weapons. Flyers dropped by Israeli forces in the Beqaa Valley gave civilians just two hours to evacuate their homes, and there have been unverified claims that these flyers included codes that could compromise mobile phones.

Lebanese civilians have been caught in the crossfire, dealing with both physical destruction and psychological trauma. Eyewitnesses describe terrifying scenes as rockets and bombs rain down on their communities. In one instance, civilians reported seeing ordnance explode in mid-air after an airstrike, further endangering those on the ground. Adding to the tension, Israel has reportedly been able to disrupt radio frequencies in Lebanon to broadcast warnings about impending airstrikes. This capability has shocked many Lebanese civilians, highlighting the technological gap between the two sides.

The conflict raises serious questions about Hezbollah’s ability to sustain its resistance against Israel. Khalil Helou, another retired Lebanese general, has labelled the conflict a “full-scale attrition war” and doubts whether Hezbollah can maintain the fight. He notes that Israel has proven capable of sustaining long-term attrition warfare, while Hezbollah may lack the resources and resilience to continue. Although Hezbollah possesses a large arsenal of missiles capable of striking Israeli territory, Israeli airstrikes have significantly weakened its leadership and infrastructure, potentially hampering its ability to respond effectively.

Daniel Byman, a senior fellow specializing in terrorism and warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, believes that Hezbollah is on the defensive. While the group can still launch attacks against Israel, its internal communication and strategic capabilities may be compromised by the Israeli strikes. Israel’s precision in targeting Hezbollah’s leaders and key assets has left the group scrambling to adapt. However, Byman also cautions that there is much about Hezbollah’s current situation that remains unknown, leaving room for unexpected developments.

The looming question is whether Israel will launch a ground invasion of Lebanon. While Israeli officials have not confirmed such plans, the potential for an invasion remains a key concern. Katicha, the retired Lebanese general, hopes it can be avoided, as it would escalate the conflict further and result in even greater destruction. However, he acknowledges that the decision will ultimately depend on whether Israel feels it has achieved its strategic objectives through airstrikes alone. If the Israeli government concludes that a ground incursion is necessary to secure its northern border and bring stability to the region, such an operation may become inevitable.

In conclusion, while international leaders and military experts debate the semantics of what constitutes “war,” the situation in Lebanon has already reached that threshold for many civilians. With homes destroyed, roads blocked, and lives uprooted, the Lebanese people are facing the brutal realities of an ongoing and intensifying conflict. As the situation unfolds, the potential for a ground invasion looms large, and the prospect of a prolonged war of attrition between Israel and Hezbollah seems increasingly likely. For now, the region remains engulfed in uncertainty and fear, with no clear end in sight.

The US Air Force is actively developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) that will fly alongside manned military jets. However, it is not alone in envisioning these “loyal wingman” systems as a pivotal part of future airpower. The US Navy shares this vision, as do allied nations like Australia and the United Kingdom — and adversarial powers such as China and Russia.

In a four-part video series by Breaking Defense, Editor-in-Chief Aaron Mehta, reporters Michael Marrow and Valerie Insinna, and Stacie Pettyjohn from the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS) think tank come together to discuss the global landscape of CCA systems. This insightful panel explores how various nations are positioning themselves in the race for these next-generation air combat capabilities.

Credit: Breaking Defense

For more from this series, check out the videos below:

Major-General Tim Cross joins John to discuss his experiences in the military amidst global security challenges. Reflecting on his involvement in the 2003 Iraq invasion, he acknowledges the failures of the post-war period, criticising the poor decisions that undermined lasting nation-building efforts. He also examines the growing threats from authoritarian regimes like Russia and China.

Cross argues that the West is facing a leadership crisis and must embrace morally courageous decision-making to survive. He advocates for a strategic defence posture that enhances military capabilities to address modern threats, while also defending the core democratic values that are increasingly under pressure in the West.