Mr Gosling said northern Australia’s defence would be seriously boosted by the Commonwealth’s $7-10bn investment in 18 medium landing craft and eight heavy landing craft, to be based in northern Australia.

Writing in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Strategist magazine, the Top End’s federal MP said the strong focus on northern Australia in defence planning including the National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program reflected the crucial role the region would play in defending the nation.

He said northern Australian bases would “have a key role to play in helping the ADF to recover from an attack and strike back at the enemy”.

He flagged East Arm as a potential site to base the Territory’s contingent.

“Picture the manoeuvres of the British and US planes that shot down Iranian missiles heading for Israel in April — only this time over the Arafura Sea, again.”