PM Morrison said the initial flight of just 26 people included Australian citizens, Afghan nationals with Australian visas, and one foreign official, despite the C-130J's 128-person capacity.
Australia is now in the process of negotiating a landing spot at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan’s capital, to rescue the estimated 200 Australian citizens now trapped in the Taliban-controlled country.
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon has deployed to Kadena Airbase in Japan as part of Operation Argos.
Boeing Australia has signed an agreement with Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) to grow and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned and controlled businesses.
Two Royal Australian Air Force units deployed air defence and surveillance technologies during Australia’s largest multinational training exercise.
Wing Commander Marija Jovanovich, the squadron’s commanding officer, said the unit sustained an intensive operational flying program despite the challenge of COVID-19.