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.

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

An American Marine has been arrested and charged after allegedly raping a woman in Palmerston, near Darwin in the Northern Territory.

A US Defence Force spokesman confirmed a 20-year-old Marine was arrested by NT Police and charged with aggravated assault and sexual intercourse without consent.

A NT Police spokeswoman said the 20-year-old’s arrest on Monday, September 18, was in relation to an alleged incident in Palmerston that same day.

It is understood that all Marines at the Robertson Barracks are unable to leave or allow visitors on base, with the US Defence Force spokesman saying there was a “restricted liberty status” at the base.

The American military has taken over an investigation into the death of three Marines during a training exercise on a remote island off the Northern Territory.

NT Police were leading the response after a horror military aircraft crash on the Tiwi Islands on Sunday August 27.

There were 23 troops on board the tilt-rotor military aircraft when it went down, with the two pilots and crew chief understood to have sacrificed their lives to avert a catastrophic crash killing all on-board.

Under the Commonwealth Defence Visiting Forces Act, the Territory coroner was barred from holding an inquest into the three marines’ deaths with the initial reports passed onto the American authorities.

The Northern Territory facility that gained national prominence as the "gold standard" for quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic will be used to house thousands of troops form both Australia and overseas under a new lease agreement struck by the federal and NT governments.

The 3,500 bed former COVID-19 quarantine facility will be used to house thousands of military personnel from Australia and overseas under a new five-year deal between the federal and NT governments.

The first large cohort to be housed at the facility — 1,300 troops from Australia and international partner nations taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre — is due to arrive later this month.

"The importance of this facility is it will take pressure of the local accommodation market during a crucial time for the NT tourism season, and that will ensure that there's more beds for tourists to come to."