Initially postponed due to coronavirus, the deployment of US Marines to the Top End is back on, but questions remain about how many are coming, when they'll arrive or where they'll be treated if any contract COVID-19.

Around 2,500 Marines were expected to arrive in Darwin in early April as part of an annual rotation to the Top End that has taken place since 2012.

But the risk of spreading COVID-19 into the Territory and its vulnerable remote Aboriginal communities was considered too great at the time.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds today informed US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper the military contingent had now been given approval.

The size and date of the deployment have yet to be determined, although the Marines usually stay in the Top End throughout the dry season. NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner welcomed Ms Reynolds' announcement and said local businesses would get a "massive boost" by having the Marines in the Top End.

PITCH Black, the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest international air engagement exercise, has been shot down by COVID-19.

Australian Defence confirmed on Tuesday that the Territory military exercise will not be conducted this year due to the coronavirus crisis.

Pitch Black hosts up to 3500 personnel and up to 120 aircraft from around the globe including participants from Australia, Canada, France (New Caledonia), Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and the United States.

Japan was to be participating for the first time in 2020.

The cancellation of Pitch Black follows on the back of the announcement that Australia’s largest army exercise for this year, Exercise Hamel, has been cancelled. 

Fifty-four Marines, the advance party of what was to be a 2,500-strong summer rotational force Down Under, were placed in quarantine last month to guard against transmission of the coronavirus.

just like Mandela...

Fifty-four Marines, the advance party of what was to be a 2,500-strong summer rotational force Down Under, were placed in quarantine last month to guard against transmission of the coronavirus.

just like Mandela...

Leathernecks often say if it's not raining, they're not training. The next time thousands of them deploy to Australia's Northern Territory, that could very much be true.

The Marine Corps announced this week that it would delay an annual rotation Down Under due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of California- and Hawaii-based Marines -- along with MV-22 Ospreys, AH-1Z Vipers, UH-1Y Venoms and RQ-21 Blackjacks -- were scheduled to deploy to Darwin this spring.

The Marine Corps is still sending vehicles and other supplies to Australia in anticipation of the rotation happening this year. Australian authorities have strict quarantine and inspection requirements.