US military activity will ramp up along the Northern Territory coastline, with more American bombers and fighter jets set to operate out of the Top End as early as next year, while long-range guided missiles will also be manufactured domestically in an effort to bolster the nation’s northern defences.

“We’re also increasing the presence of rotational US forces in Australia, and all this will mean more maritime patrol aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft operating from bases across northern Australia,” he said.

“It will also mean more frequent rotational bomber deployments.”

Deploying 16,000 US Marines to Darwin each year would be the cheapest way of deterring Australia’s potential enemies, a new report claims, urging a huge American influx to arrive in the Top End as early as 2025.

This week, a report released by the Institute of Public Affairs’ pitched six recommendations in how the next Australian government should improve national security.

“If agreed, this larger USMC presence should be made to happen within the next term of government, that is, 2025-28,” the report says.

Additionally, the report suggested the boost should come with “significant” firepower and aviation assets.

An Osprey crash in Australia that killed three Marines last August was caused by multiple pilot errors during a near mid-air collision, a military investigation has found. It also found that squadron leadership had permitted “a culture that disregarded safety of flight.”

The Australia accident exposed significant safety issues within the squadron. Investigators recommended punitive actions, including potential court martial charges for one senior squadron member and potential administrative actions against the squadron's former commanding officer, Lt. Col. Joe Whitefield, who they said “permitted a culture that disregarded safety of flight procedures."

Given the seriousness of the safety violations, investigators also recommended all Marine Corps Osprey squadrons schedule a temporary pause in flight operations, known as a standdown, to review this accident.

The defence minister, Richard Marles, has refused to say when American B-52 aircraft will start operating from the Northern Territory.

Asked a direct question about whether he knew when B-52 aircraft would start their deployments from the RAAF base in Tindal, 320km south-east of Darwin, he replied:

Look, I’m not about to go into those details. Again, we are working very closely with our American partners.

There is a significant force posture initiative that’s being undertaken between ourselves and the United States, which I might say is seeing enormous American investment in our northern bases here at Darwin and Tindal, but across the north, that [provides] a huge advantage for our country.

The B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can carry out ocean surveillance and anti-ship operations and “can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance”

The United Kingdom has sent an elite Special Forces Unit to the Top End ahead of a massive multinational military exercise this month.

Last weekend, troops from 40 Commando, Royal Marines, touched down at Darwin Airport to take part in the Australian Army-led Exercise Predator’s Run.

Having travelled more than 14,000 kilometres, it is understood 40 Commando’s touchdown was preceded by an advanced party which arrived early to plan alongside local Australian Defence Force (ADF) units.

The Defence spokesman also confirmed personnel from the Philippine Army would participate in the exercise.