MELBOURNE, Australia \u2014 Participants in a recent air combat exercise used Australia\u2019s upgraded air bases that are still undergoing work in part to support an increased rotational presence of U.S. forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expanded facilities in northern Australia allowed a larger number of aircraft to park at RAAF Base Darwin during the biennial exercise Pitch Black, which ran Aug. 19-Sept. 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More work is taking place at RAAF Base Tindal, about 200 miles south of Darwin, with the work at both bases falling under the purview of the United States Force Posture Initiatives agreement with Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australia\u2019s Defence Department said the initiative is designed to \u201cimprove interoperability between Australian and U.S. armed forces, provide opportunities to engage with partners in the Indo-Pacific, promote regional stability, and better posture both nations to respond to contingencies such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the initiative, both governments have jointly invested in a range of capital infrastructure works and supporting arrangements, mainly in northern Australia. These include expanded aircraft parking facilities at Darwin, including two new expanded parking aprons; a new hangar for Australia P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft sustainment; and a U.S. Air Force aircraft maintenance support facility. These projects were completed between 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n