NT Defence Landscape
The Northern Territory is home to several of the Australian Defence Force’s most strategic bases in northern Australia and the country’s largest and most important training ranges.
Australian Defence Force Facilities
Bases across the north play a critical role in Australia’s defence capabilities and supporting Defences broader strategic interests. The servicing and construction of base infrastructure is an ongoing effort that is effectively delivered by a significant proportion of Territory businesses.
Training Areas
Training ranges in the Territory are vast in size and airspace, with low population density and effectively no electromagnetic interference. Training areas are regularly used by the ADF and its allies to conduct military exercises, large scale manoeuvres and live-fire training.
Under the United States Force Posture Initiative, the Territory’s vast training areas and ranges are undergoing a significant redevelopment .
Annual exercises
The Northern Territory plays an important role in hosting international military training exercises and contributing to regional security. The Territory has proven itself as a jurisdiction capable of supporting large influxes of visiting military personnel. Increases in personnel are a welcome contribution to the Territory’s economy and help support local businesses.
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Robertson Barracks
Robertson Barracks is a major Australian Army base located 15km east of Darwin in Holtze.
The base is home to the 1st Brigade and boasts a number of living, working and training facilities.
Units at Robertson Barracks include Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Infantry, Medical Corps, and other Combat Service Support units.
The base supports the bulk of the US Marine Rotational Force Darwin during their annual six-month deployments as part of the United States Force Posture Initiative.
Larrakeyah Defence Precinct
The Larrakeyah Defence Precinct (LDP) is a tri-service defence base comprised of Larrakeyah and HMAS Coonawarra, located immediately west of Darwin City and supported by Defence Establishment Berrimah. The precinct is unique and plays a significant role in the coordination of ADF operations across northern Australia.
- HMAS Coonawarra is the Royal Australian Navy’s primary base in the region. Located in Darwin, the base is home to home to the Armidale Class Patrol Boat Fleet and the incoming Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels. The modern naval base provides regular service and maintenance primarily for patrol vessels.
- The Headquarters of the Northern Command (HQNORCOM) coordinates the planning and conduct of operations in northern Australia during peace and wartime.
- The Regional Force Surveillance Group Headquarters (RFSG) is made up of three units that provide littoral surveillance and reconnaissance capability across Australia’s entire north and north-west coast.
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is the Royal Australian Air Force’s main forward operating base located 6.5km north east of Darwin city, and notably shares a runway with the Darwin International Airport.
The base plays an important role in providing air support and surveillance operations throughout northern Australia. It also hosts a number of military exercises including Exercises Pitch Black and Diamond Storm.
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal, located 15km outside of Katherine, is one of the Air Force’s youngest operational bases and Australia’s most strategic Defence sites.
RAAF Base Tindal is the home of RAAF No. 75 Squadron of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter fleet, as well as a number of ground-based units.
The site regularly hosts visiting aircraft and personnel, which swells during exercises including Pitch Black, Diamond Storm and Arnhem Thunder.
RAAF Base Tindal’s dry-season conditions and its proximity to Delamere Air Weapons Range make it a favoured training location for the RAAF and its partners.
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Mount Bundey Training Area
Located about 60 kilometres south of Darwin, and covering around 10,000 hectares. Mount Bundey is commonly used by the Australian Army and its allies for live-fire training.
Bradshaw Field Training Area
Bradshaw Field is located in the north-west of the Territory. It covers an area of around 900,000 hectares and is regularly used for combined exercises between Australian and allied forces.
Delamere Air Weapons Range
Located about 120 kilometres south of Katherine, Delamere is regularly used by the Royal Australian Air Force. Spanning over 200,000 hectares, it allows for the training and testing of conventional weapons.
Kangaroo Flats Training Area
Located about 30 kilometres south-east of Darwin, it covers an area of about 5,000 hectares and is primarily used for live-fire practice by the Australian Army.
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Exercise Pitch Black
Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force. It is primarily held in RAAF bases Darwin and Tindal.
Exercise Pitch Black has become one of the largest and most important air combat exercises in the Asia-Pacific region, helping to build stronger military partnerships and enhance regional security.
Exercise Kakadu
Exercise Kakadu is a biennial multinational naval exercise involving more than 20 nations over 2 weeks, making it one of the most significant exercises held in the Northern Territory.
Exercise Kakadu aims to strengthen the ability of participating nations to work together in joint maritime security operations.
Exercise Talisman Sabre
Exercise Talisman Sabre is a major combined biennial exercise led by Australian and United States military forces. It is one of the largest in the world and involved thousands of troops, vehicles and major assets training over land, air and sea. Talisman Sabre aims to improve the interoperability of the participating forces and has utilised training areas in the Northern Territory since 2007.