A senior coalition member has lashed out at a plan by the Greens to cancel defence contracts and shut down military bases, including the likes of Pine Gap, in a bid to stifle foreign military activity.

The Opposition spokesman for Defence Andrew Hastie wants a new defence committee to be restricted to Labor and Liberal members.

"The Greens plan includes ‘Renegotiate the US alliance to secure a new relationship focused on making us a better global citizen’ and ‘Close all military bases that foreign militaries have set up in this country’.”

“Of course, that would include Pine Gap, a really critical part of our alliance,” he said.

“It would also include the closure of any defence establishments in Darwin that support the current footprint of the Marine Expeditionary Force, which works so closely with the Australian Defence Force.”

“Liberals are trying to stop the Greens from joining a new defence committee because of policies like: be a good global citizen; close foreign bases and Pine Gap; the U.S.A. alliance; end AUKUS. Could you imagine if the ALP and Liberals had to consider these very popular policies?”

An emergency response at the Darwin Airport has been declared a false alarm after a pair of fire trucks raced across the tarmac to seemingly save a landed United States V-22 Osprey.

On Tuesday, morning, passengers and staff were left confused when the airport came to a stand still as two fire trucks entered the airstrip to pull up alongside the US Marine aircraft.

Civilian onlookers watched with anticipation, only for the fire and rescue teams to stand down and return to their bays, with airport operations resumed a short time later.

There was no emergency and no problem with the aircraft.

A US Marine charged with rape while on rotation in the Top End has had his plans to return home to await trial put on ice after being placed on bail in the Darwin Local Court on Friday.

The court heard the 24-year-old — who cannot be named before being committed to stand trial — had been issued with a notice to appear after the charge was laid on May 1.

But prosecutor Rhiannon McGlinn said her office had requested the case be relisted a day before his Marine Corps contract was due to lapse to ask that he be placed on bail instead.

In granting bail, Mr Neill ordered the man to live at the Defence Establishment Berrimah and not travel more than 100km from Darwin while surrendering his travel documents and steering clear of the airport.

Northern Australia’s national security has received a significant boost with the completion of upgrades to Nackeroo Airstrip at Bradshaw Field training area south of Darwin.

Part of the Commonwealth’s $747m NT Training Areas and Ranges Project, the Nackeroo Airstrip works included sealing the infrastructure to increase its capacity to take heavy aircraft.

Defence said the enhancements would allow military designated aircraft like the C-17A Globemaster and MV-22 Osprey to land at Bradshaw for the first time.

Territory company Sitzler has the contract for the ranges project upgrades, supported by a number of Territory contractors including RPS Group.

“The upgrade significantly enhances the ability to undertake air, land and littoral operations from here which will lead to increased training outcomes and collective training with the United States, ADF and other partner countries.

A US Navy ship has docked in Darwin, with hundreds of sailors expected to explore the Top End during the routine stopover aimed at enhancing relations between the two allies.

Complete with a barbershop, retro diner, post office, corner store, dentist, and emergency operating theatre, USS Emory S. Land serves as a floating city wherever she is deployed.

“Our mission is to repair, rearm, and resupply deployed submarines and surface ships, both of US and our partner navies,” Captain Brent Spillner said.

“Two thirds of our crew works in the repair department, so maintenance specialists such as welders, electricians, and we’ve also got a very capable weapons department – we’ve got the ability to reload torpedoes, mines, missiles.

“We are self contained, we could go into a very austere, remote port and still provide the same services a ship would have if it were in a major port.”

“Darwin basically marks the midway point for our current secondment. This represents a massive milestone for us in terms of an opportunity to demonstrate all the skills we have, and really be able to contribute to the operation of the ship.”