Northern Territory Security & Defence

Northern Territory Security & Defence

Northern Australia is strategically significant in the national security and defence network. Defence activities in the Northern Territory include the traditional role of sovereign protection and, importantly, the more contemporary role of providing assistance in times of natural and humanitarian disaster. This latter role is assisting to strengthen ties with our closest neighbours in maintaining regional security.

The Northern Territory is home to the majority of Australia’s Abrams tanks, Tiger helicopters and Armidale class patrol boats, as well as a squadron of F/A18 fighters and a significant proportion of field vehicles. This provides technical support, maintenance and facilities management opportunities. For example, more than 100 small and medium sized local businesses support the maintenance of Armidale class patrol boats.

The RAAF base at Tindal near Katherine and the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap (Australia/United States) near Alice Springs are key contributors to those regional economies. The Northern Territory hosted 1150 US Marines in 2014 and this will increase in coming years.