Near Katherine, in the vast expanse of the Northern Territory, 7.30 has walked through a newly built bomb shelter at RAAF Base Tindal.
asserted
7.30 → walk → Tindal
Here, some of Australia's most capable fighter jets, the F-35, along with new ultra-long range Triton surveillance drones are located.
asserted
some → locate → drones
The shelters — the first of many — are a rare sign of preparation for a potential military threat to the country's north, with Tindal a high-value target for anyone threatening Australia.
asserted
Tindal → threaten → Australia
"We are at the forward-end of Australian security," Wing-Commander Alex Smith told 7.30.
asserted
Smith → tell → 7.30
"We have an air combat capability here which projects air power, and at the same time we could be a very juicy target for an adversary.
uncertain
we → have → adversary
"If you knock us out of the fight, you take away a fair bit of Australia's capability."
asserted
you → knock → capability
Those comments highlight the strategic importance of Tindal, and soon there could soon be more operational capacity for other northern bases.
uncertain
comments → highlight → bases
Those include RAAF Curtin and RAAF Learmonth in north-west Western Australia.
asserted
Those → include → Australia
They are termed 'bare-bases'.
asserted
They → term → ?
They have no permanent Defence presence beyond a caretaker staff, although Learmonth operates as a civil airport for nearby Exmouth.
asserted
Learmonth → have → Exmouth
That may change.
uncertain
That → change → ?
The US military has investigated the possibility of further expanding its presence in northern Australia, using Air Force bases as jet fuel depots.
asserted
military → investigate → depots
The US government last year formally sought proposals to build jet fuel depots capable of storing 190 million litres at RAAF Curtin, RAAF Learmonth and RAAF Amberley near Brisbane.
asserted
government → seek → Brisbane
The WA bases are routinely used for training exercises and can be scaled up for operational use should it be needed.
asserted
it → use → use
In contrast, RAAF Amberley is Defence's largest air base, home to assets like the Air Force's Super Hornets and Growlers, and substantial infrastructure to go with them.
asserted
Amberley → go → them
Contract documents published by the US government last year sought interest from companies that could build a facility capable of "receipt, storage, additive injection and issue of (jet fuel)" at each base, with a combined holding of over one million barrels.
uncertain
that → publish → barrels
The contract documents are now listed as "inactive" and the US Department of War has been contacted for comment on whether the plans are progressing.
asserted
plans → list → comment
Defence Minister Richard Marles said additions to these bases would be welcome, and fit with the government's broader strategy for northern Australia.
asserted
additions → say → Australia
"We talk to America, of course, about each of its plans in respect of building that capability," Mr Marles told 7.30.
asserted
Marles → talk → 7.30
"That is a great capability to have here.
asserted
That → have → ?
It's a capability we both benefit from.
asserted
we → benefit → ?
Growing US presence in Australia's north
US investment at RAAF Curtin would continue a steady flow of US dollars into Australia's northern defence bases.
asserted
presence → grow → bases
Major construction works are either underway or have recently been completed at RAAF Darwin and RAAF Tindal, like new parking aprons and facilities capable of hosting long-range bombers.
asserted
works → complete → bombers
Darwin also hosts an annual training rotation of thousands of US Marines, an initiative launched under former US President Barack Obama, who described the region's sea lanes as "critical to all our economies".
asserted
who → host → economies
But despite the significant investment in infrastructure, the region does not host a permanent US presence — and there is sensitivity around describing anything as a 'base'.
asserted
region → host → base
Colonel George Flynn, the Commanding Office of Marine Rotational Force Darwin, said the presence of Marines in Darwin is open to any country to interpret how they choose — including China.
asserted
they → say → China
"Anyone can take from it what they will.
asserted
they → take → it
Any country has the right to do that,"Colonel Flynn said.
asserted
Flynn → have → right
"We just are here demonstrating that we have strong teammates in the Australian Defence Force, and we're getting ready and better every day as we work together."
asserted
we → demonstrate → Force
The chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, said the American investment serves as a very real deterrent to any potential adversaries.
asserted
investment → say → adversaries
"We are interchangeable, not just interoperable but interchangeable with our US forces," he said.
asserted
he → say → forces
Asked if that deterrent message was aimed at China, Air Marshal Chappell said it was more about showcasing Australia's alliance.
asserted
it → ask → alliance
"We're sending a message to the world — it's agnostic of any particular party — that we have a very close alliance."
asserted
we → send → alliance
In recent weeks, the skies of northern Australia have lit up each night with fighter jets and other aircraft from around the world, gathered for Exercise Pitch Black.
asserted
jets → light → Black
It's a massive air force exercise, testing pilots and air crews through complex war games often conducted in the dead of night.
asserted
It → test → night
Nations represented this year include the US, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Spain and France.
asserted
Nations → represent → US
For some of those attending the vast open skies of northern Australia are a drawcard, and an opportunity they don't often get in congested airspace at home.
asserted
they → attend → home
But Air Marshal Chappell said the exercises are also designed to send a message.
asserted
exercises → say → message
"It's a chance to again build those relationships, practice and learn from each other and ensure we are tactically ready to go," he said.
asserted
he → build → other
Air Marshal Chappell spoke about his approach to leading the RAAF at a time of heightened tension in the Indo-Pacific, describing it as a "strategic autumn".
asserted
Chappell → speak → autumn
…and 29 more, not listed.
The Aporia