Australia to expand northern military bases ------------------------------------------------- Australia is investing A$747 million ($580 million) to upgrade military bases and expand joint exercises with the United States, following a deterioration of diplomatic relations with China ------------------------------------------------- BASE UPGRADES Weapon firing ranges RAAF* to be overhauled and Base new training facilities set up for defence personnel and U.S. Marines ------------------------------------------------- 1 Robertson Barracks ------------------------------------------------- 2 Kangaroo Flats ------------------------------------------------- 3 Mount Bundey ------------------------------------------------- 4 Bradshaw Field Airstrip will also be lengthened to support larger aircraft Upgrades to begin in 2021 and be finished by 2026 ------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 RAAF Base Darwin Timor Sea Arafura Sea Kakadu National Park Tindal NORTHERN TERRITORY 100km 60 miles *Royal Australian Air Force ------------------------------------------------- AUSTRALIA 1,500km 930 miles ------------------------------------------------- More than 2,000 U.S. Marines are already in northern Australia as part of annual joint training activities. Biennial Australia-U.S. war games typically involve more than 30,000 troops ------------------------------------------------- U.S. Marines during Talisman Sabre 2019 war games in Australia ------------------------------------------------- Sources: AAP, Australian Department of Defence, Reuters Picture: Flickr © GRAPHIC NEWS