Fort Direction

  Secret satellite mission by US military teams, Philip Dorling, The Age, 8 February 2011 In what was codenamed Project Crok, personnel from the USAF space test group/space test operations squadron were deployed from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico to HMAS Stirling south of Perth and Fort Direction near Hobart. The US teams […]

Modernised High Frequency Communications System – Riverina node

Introduction The Department of Defence has a cluster of communications facilities in the region of Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina, including the transmitter and receiver and elements of the Riverina node of the Modernised High Frequency Communications System (MHFCS), described by the local council as “home to some of the most advanced communication technology […]

Delamere Air Weapons Range – NT

Introduction In December 2014 a US Air Force B-52 bomber, along with a KC-135 refueling tanker, landed in Darwin, and took part in simulated bombing exercises at the Delamere Air Weapons Range. This was the fourth  B-52 mission to Darwin between 2012 and 2014. Location 15°37’50″S, 131°51’43″E Wikimapia Delamere Range Facility Airport: Latitude:-15.747  Longitude:131.91999   GOVERNMENT SOURCES Australia Tindal […]

Possibilities and effects of a nuclear missile attack on Pine Gap

Introduction See also main page: Pine Gap Joint Defence Facility [Updated edition] One of the enduring public concerns of the hosting of United States intelligence and military facilities in Australia, whether under the heading of “joint facilities” or otherwise, has been the possibility of a nuclear missile attack on one or more of these facilities in […]

ASD Cocos Islands Signals Intelligence Station

Introduction Latitude: –12.199302°, Longitude:  96.858687° The Australian Signals Directorate maintains a signals interception and monitoring facility on the Cocos Islands, including a satellite ground station, and radio monitoring and direction-finding equipment. The facility is on the southeast part of West Island, on the road to Scout Park, at coordinates 12°11’57.95″S, 96°51’34.50″E. The station has been expanded in […]

US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin

Introduction Project coordinator: Richard Tanter Updated: 12 July 2021 Marine Rotational Force – Darwin official website Facebook page Email: MRFDmedia@usmc.mil Phone: (+61) 08 892 58519 Commanding Officer (8th Rotation – 2019): Colonel Giles ‘Russ’ Boyce In November 2011 Prime Minister Gillard and President Obama announced the deployment of a Marine Air Ground Task Force to Darwin, […]

Darwin – port

Introduction Australian navy and visiting foreign navy ships normally berth at  Fort Hill Wharf or occasionally at East Arm Wharf. See also US ship visits to Darwin Log of US Navy ship visits to Darwin, 2000 – 2014 (updated 1 April 2014) LOCATION: Fort Hill Wharf: 12°28’18″S 130°50’44″E East Arm Wharf: 12°29′S 130°52′E Port of Darwin, Fact Sheet No.1, Darwin Port […]

Mount Bundey Training Area

Introduction The Mount Bundey Training Area (MBTA) is a 117300 ha. site,75km south-east of Humpty Doo, south of the Arnhem Highway,  between the Mary River and Kakadu National Park. Previously a cattle station, the property was acquired as a training area in 1988. United States and Singaporean forces both conduct joint tank exercises with Australian […]

RAAF Base Darwin

Contents Introduction Government sources – Australian Government sources – United States Introduction RAAF Base Darwin is co-located with Darwin International Airport bordering Stuart Drive, Darwin. It is home to a number of RAAF units, and is frequently used by USAF and US Marine aircraft, as well as Republic of Singapore Air Force planes. The US […]

Bamaga Signals Intelligence Station

The Australian Signals Division operates a signals intelligence station near Bamaga at the very tip of the York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. The station was established in 1988 at a estimated cost of $25 million. The station primarily monitors communications in the Papua-New Guinea region, and was established with a special mission to follow activities in the Bougainville region. It is operated as a remote facility by a detachment from Cabarlah.