In Australia, the Marines will join numerous training events, including Southern Jackaroo, which typically involves Japanese troops; Bhakti Kanyini AUSINDO, which involved Indonesian forces last year; and the aviation-focused Pitch Black, Diamond Storm and HELICON LUK.
The US Defence Department is seeking businesses for extensive upgrades to RAAF Base Darwin.
The works are part of the US Force Posture initiative to enhance security in the Asia-Pacific region - including construction of a parking apron, a maintenance support facility and an aircraft maintenance hangar at RAAF Base Darwin.
The contract also includes an aircraft rinse facility, aircraft wash rack, helicopter landing pads and supporting facilities as well as construction of Marine aviation logistics squadron and Marine wing support squadron facilities - as well as a Type 11 aircraft maintenance hangar, telecommunications distribution facility, supporting facilities, utility connections, site improvements and earthworks.
Under the Force Posture, Australian businesses and joint ventures have won United States-funded infrastructure contracts to the value of almost US$200m.
This includes the completion of a new fuel facility at RAAF Base Darwin to support enhanced air co-operation between the United States and Australia and construction of a US tank storage facility at East Arm, which is behind schedule but expected to be completed by July.
In addition, tens-of-millions was spent upgrading RAAF Base Tindal in Katherine to support KC-30A multi role tanker transport operations, which Defence said will enhance air mobility, including air-to-air refuelling and air logistics support missions.
Tens-of-millions more have been spent developing the MQ-4C Triton drone, four of which will be deployed at RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine from later this year.
On top of the A$429m committed for 2024, the United States’s total expenditure in the Northern Territory since President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Darwin in 2011 has passed the billon-dollar mark.
This includes the East Arm refuelling tank farm which will come in at about $200m when completed and the Marine Rotational Force which is based at Robertson Barracks during the Dry.
On top of its previous spending, the US has budgeted A$192.4m for new parking aprons at RAAF Base Darwin.
It’s understood the new aprons will be used by the US Navy for marine aircraft.
In addition, the USA Airforce has allocated about A$229m upgrading facilities at both RAAF Darwin and Tindal.
Australia is prioritising autonomous military technology, information warfare and quantum computing in the secretive second phase of the AUKUS pact.
Details of the second pillar – on top of Australia’s $368bn commitment to acquire nuclear submarines – have been closely held since the pact was unveiled more than two years ago.
But officials have been meeting in working groups across technologies including artificial intelligence, hypersonic missiles and advanced cyber, which Prof Munro said had been a “forcing function for winnowing down what we do” to meet frontline security needs.
Speaking at the Center for a New American Security last month, she suggested Australia was focused on autonomous technology, automated intelligence and information warfare tools, and the “very significant disruption coming” through quantum.
The Prime Minister is due to arrive in the US on Monday for a four-day trip including a prestigious state dinner at the White House.
An American Marine whose alleged rape of a woman in Palmerston resulted in his team being locked down in Robertson Barracks has appeared in court for the first time.
A 20-year-old American, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with aggravated assault and sexual intercourse without consent following an alleged incident on Monday September 18.
His matter was adjourned until November 20 for preliminary examination mention, meaning the case could proceed to the Supreme Court. The rest of the Marines are due to leave Darwin in October