Nikkei Asia newspaper

Written By Miranda Booth

Miranda Booth, an international relations researcher at Darwin's Northern Institute, said the agreement "continues decades of [Australia's] alliance activities with the U.S."

She told Nikkei Asia, that it is "only part of a broader upgrade of defense infrastructure in Northern Australia."

"For the region, it will be important for the Australian government to clarify its intentions in hosting the B-52s and to stipulate under what circumstances, if any, a nuclear capacity would be present and what this would entail," Booth said.

According to the Royal Australian Airforce:

RAAF Base Tindal is located 15 kms outside Katherine and 320 kms south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Although it is Air Force's youngest operational base (except for bare bases), it is now one of Australia's most important Defence sites.

The airfield was constructed in 1942 during World War II and was originally called Carson's Airfield. Over time, it was upgraded and extended for commercial use and declared an operational Air Force Base in 1984, with an official opening on 1 October 1988.

Every year, RAAF Base Tindal hosts major exercises typically featuring visiting aircraft and personnel from around the country and world. Notable exercises include Pitch Black, Diamond Storm, Arnhem Thunder and Talisman Sabre. RAAF Base Tindal’s ideal dry-season weather and proximity to Delamere Air Weapons Range makes it a superb location to conduct high-end training sorties for the RAAF and coalition partners.

In residence

The following are based at RAAF Base Tindal:

  • No 17 Squadron 

  • No 2 Security Force Detachment Tindal

  • No 2 Squadron Detachment Tindal 

  • Tindal Health Centre

  • No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Tindal

  • No 452 Squadron Tindal Flight

  • No 75 Squadron

  • No 1 Joint Military Policing Unit Detachment Tindal

  • Chief Information Officer Group - Communications Security Tindal

  • Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Branch

  • Security and Estate Group RAAF Tindal

  • No 803 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets

  • Army's North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) has a detachment on the base.

Miranda Booth https://mirandabooth.com.au
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