NT Defence Strategy
Northern Territory Defence Strategy 2026
The Northern Territory Defence Strategy 2026 sets out how the Territory will attract more Australian, allied and partner defence personnel, capabilities and defence industry investment.
Working with industry and all levels of government, the strategy will strengthen defence, support jobs and investment, and improve Australia's ability to operate and respond from the north.
Guided by the principle of 'Strong North, Secure Australia', the strategy sets 5 priorities:
- maritime sustainment
- army’s littoral pivot
- northern theatre logistics
- northern basing and ranges
- innovation, testing and evaluation.
What the strategy means:
- A strong Northern Territory: a strong north secures Australia and the national economy.
- Higher readiness, more quickly: base, train, project and sustain from the Northern Territory to cut transit and increase materiel ready days where it matters most.
- Keeping the ADF and allies on mission: Darwin is the northern sustainment-and-repair hub, returning ships, landing craft, airframes and uncrewed systems to mission in theatre.
- Capable and integrated littoral force: army’s littoral capability generated and sustained in the north, with 1st Brigade, Landing Craft, and routine teaming with the US Marines and other partners.
- In hours and days, not weeks: the Northern Territory anchors theatre logistics - stockpiles, pre-positioning, and the north-south spine of Australia (Darwin-Katherine-Tennant Creek Alice Springs and onwards south) integrated into planning.
- Burden-sharing on Australian terms: predictable allied and partner activity layering onto Australian demand in the Northern Territory.
Download the strategy:
Northern Territory Defence Strategy 2026 PDF (6.6 MB)
Northern Territory Defence Strategy 2026 Factsheet PDF (289.0 KB)