The Northern Territory (NT) and northern Australia are strategically important to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), both for national defence and as a forward base for regional engagement.
The NT is home to 5.2% of Australia's permanent ADF personnel including 3,460 from Army, 1,033 in the Air Force, 736 in the Navy and 204 are Department of Defence civilians. The defence community directly contributes to the economic and social development of the region.
The NT boasts:
The defence industry makes a substantial contribution to the Territory economy through the creation of direct and indirect employment and generating demand for local goods and services.
In addition, the defence industry stimulates the economy through major operations and exercises held in the region and infrastructure projects that typically engage local businesses.
Defence spent $2.2 billion in the Territory in 2019 to 2020, or around 8.6% of gross state product. This reflects an increase of 7% compared to the previous year and remains above the 10-year average defence expenditure of $2.0 billion.
The Australian Government’s 2016 Defence white paper outlined significant expenditure in the NT and a focus on investment in national defence infrastructure in northern Australia.
This includes:
For information about the performance and outlook for the defence sector in the NT, go to the Northern Territory Economy website.
The ADF makes a significant contribution to the Territory's population and economy with 4.8% of total defence expenditure occurring in the Territory.
A number of factors highlight the unique strategic location and circumstances of the NT:
Robertson Barracks is a major Australian Army base at Holzte, 15km east of Darwin. Robertson Barracks is a purpose built facility to support 1st Brigade and 1st Aviation Regiment, and has a significant number of living, working and training facilities. Robertson Barracks also supports the US Marine Rotational Force Darwin.
HMAS Coonawarra is a Royal Australian Navy base located in Darwin and is home to twelve fleet units of the Navy and Armidale Class Patrol Boats, and Headquarters the Northern Command (HQNORCOM). HQNORCOM coordinates the planning and conduct of operations north of Australia during peacetime and wartime.
For more information on the Larakeyah Defence Precinct, go to the Navy website.
Also located within the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct is the North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE). NORFORCE is an Army Reserve infantry regiment of the Australian Army.
For more information on the North-West Mobile Force, go to the Army website.
RAAF Base Darwin is Air Force’s main forward operating base located 6.5km north east of Darwin.
For more information on RAAF Base Darwin, go the the Air Force website.
RAAF Base Tindal is located 15kms outside of Katherine. The airfield is a young operational base and is one of Australia’s more important Defence installations.
For more information on RAAF Base Tindal, go to the Air Force website.
Formally HMAS Coonawarra, Defence Establishment Berrimah is located 8kms east of the Darwin CBD.
Talisman Sabre is a training exercise for US and Australian militaries to focus on the planning and conduct of mid-intensity warfighting. On a biennial bases this exercise is carried out at the Mount Bundy training area in the NT and Shoalwater Bay training area in Queensland.
For more information on Exercise Talisman Sabre, go the the Australian Government Department of Defence website.
RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal play key roles in biennial air training with Royal Australian Air Force and other international personnel. In 2018 the exercise hosted up to 4,000 personnel and up to 140 aircraft from Australia, Canada, New Caledonia, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, India, Malaysia and the US.
For more information on the Exercise Pitch Black, go to the Air Force website.
Held on a biennial basis, the Kakadu maritime exercise strengthens ties with Australia’s international counterparts and aims to improve maritime interoperability.
For more information on Exercise Kakadu, go to the Navy website.
Land: G Wagon, Land Rover Perentie, Bushmaster and Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicles.
Sea: Armidale and Cape Class Patrol Boats, over 30 rigid inflatable boats.
Air: Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters, FA-18A aircraft, FA-18B Legacy Hornet.
Land: LAND121 vehicles still to be fully introduced into service.
Sea: Arafura Cape Class Patrol Boats.
Air: F-35A Lightening II and Triton.
The NT plays an ongoing role supporting Australian Border Force operations. Operation Resolute and Operation Sovereign Borders protect Australia’s borders and offshore oil and gas installations from maritime security threats.
For more information go to the Australian Border Force website.
NORFORCE is one of three operational Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSUs) employed in surveillance and reconnaissance of the remote areas of northern Australia. NORFORCE’s area of operations include the NT and Kimberley region of Western Australia. Sixty per cent of NORFORCE personnel are Aboriginal soldiers and are predominately drawn from the areas they patrol to draw on their local knowledge.
