PRIME Minister Scott Morrison’s campaign caravan has rolled into Darwin for the first time this election.

Mr Morrison will spend today spruiking the Coalition’s defence package, which will include the introduction of a “Local Industry Capability Plan” requirement for all significant Defence infrastructure projects.

Under the plan, all tenderers for defence infrastructure construction jobs valued at more than $7.5 million will need to show how they will engage local businesses in the project.

While in Darwin, Mr Morrison is expected to visit the newly-arrived Marine contingent and announce the rotation will reach its full strength by July.

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The eighth Marine rotation to Darwin will see 2500 American soldiers posted in the Top End, up from 1700 now

A new contingent of US Marines are headed to Darwin in the eighth rotation of American troops training down under.

The ramp-up from 1700 Marines expected to arrive this year to 2500 will be the first time US troop numbers reach the full planned complement.

The Morrison government says the increased US military presence was the result of Australia's strong alliance and friendship with the US.

This year, the Marines will participate in multiple training activities with Australian troops, including a new humanitarian assistance and disaster response segment.

Aircraft deploying to Australia’s Northern Territory include 10 MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, four AH-1Z Vipers and three UH-1Y Venom helicopters, a Marine spokesman said.

Aircraft deploying for the rotation include 10 MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, four AH-1Z Vipers and three UH-1Y Venom helicopters, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Colin Kennard said in an email.

The aircraft represent “the most capable Aviation Combat Element” sent to Darwin since the rotational deployments began in 2011, he said.

“These aircraft increase the training value for MRF-D activities and increase our ability to respond to contingencies within the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

To facilitate operations for the U.S.A. helicopters, temporary airfield matting has been installed at RAAF base Darwin.

Marines, airmen and soldiers recently practiced seizing a small Japanese island in an exercise that honed skills some experts say may be necessary in a face-off against China.

This entire mission profile simulated the process of securing advanced footholds for follow-on forces to conduct further military operations with rapid redeployment.

It kicked off with a free-fall jump onto Japan’s Ie Jima Island for reconnaissance and surveillance before 1st Battalion, 4th Marines “conducted a 600-mile long-range raid” to seize an airfield on the island.

This kind of approach could be necessary should the U.S. need to face-off against China, said American defense and security analyst Paul Buchanan: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Marines are engaging in these sorts of exercises because that’s exactly the combat environment that they’re most likely to find themselves in, at least in the near future,”

An endangered dugong found dead here is believed to be one of only three that had been confirmed in waters around the northern part of this southern island.

The bureau is monitoring the mammals, designated by the central government as a protected species, whose habitat could be affected by land reclamation work for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan to the Henoko district of Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture.

Okinawa is said to be the northernmost limit of the habitat of dugongs.

Environmentalists have argued that the relocation project would destroy their critical habitat and called for a halt to the land reclamation work.