Australian Defence Force: Difference between revisions

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<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Governor-GeneralSam of Australia|Governor-General]] [[David Hurley]] as representative of [[Charles III]] as [[Monarchy of Australia|King of AustraliaMostyn]]<ref name=ACs68/>

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| commander = GeneralAdmiral [[AngusDavid CampbellJohnston (generaladmiral)|AngusDavid CampbellJohnston]]

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<!-- Financial -->| amount = {{AUD}}4652.9588 billion <small>(2022–232023–24)</small><ref name="Budget">{{citeCite web |url=https://wwwbreakingdefense.defence.gov.aucom/sites2023/default05/files/2022australian-03/2022budget-23_Defence_PBS_00_Complete_0.pdf historic-defense-spending-plus-au1-2b-on-us-made-missiles/|title=PortfolioAustralian Budgetbudget: StatementsHistoric 2022–23defense |last=spending, |first=plus |date=2022AU$1.2B on US-made missiles|websitepublisher=defencebreakingdefense.gov.au com|publisherauthor=[[DepartmentMax of Defence (Australia)Blenkin|Department of Defence]] |access-date= 2023-05-09|accessdate=2024-03-01|quotelanguage=en}}</ref>

| percent_GDP = 2.04% <small>(2023/24)</small><ref name="Budget"/>

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The '''Australian Defence Force''' ('''ADF''') is the [[Armed forces|military organisation]] responsible for the defence of the [[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]] and its national interests. It has three branches: the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN), [[Australian Army]] and the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF). The ADF has a strength of just over 89,000 personnel and is supported by the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] and severalalongside other civilian agenciesentities.

During the first decades of the 20th century, the [[Australian Government]] established the armed services as separate organisations., with Eacheach service hadhaving an independent [[chain of command]]. In 1976, the government made a strategic change and established the ADF to place the services under a single headquarters. Over time, the degree of integration has increased, and tri-service headquarters, logistics, and training institutions have supplanted many single-service establishments. The ADF has been deployed around the world, including as part ofin combat and, [[peacekeeping]] and disaster-relief missions.

The ADF is technologically sophisticated but relatively small for its landmass. Although the ADF's 57,346 full-time active-duty personnel and 32,049 active [[military reserve force|reservists]] {{as of|2023|6|30|lc=y}} make it the largest military in Oceania, it is smaller than most Asian military forces. However with a national population of just over 27 million, the ADF has an average ratio of [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel#List by the International Institute for Strategic Studies|military personnel per capita]].<ref>{{Cite book |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |url=https://www.iiss.org/en/publications/the-military-balance/the-military-balance-2021/#:~:text=The%20Military%20Balance%202021%3A%20Features&text=Analysis%20of%20major%20developments%20affecting,arranged%20region%2Dby%2Dregion. |title=The Military Balance 2021 |date=25 February 2021 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=9781032012278 |edition=1st |location=[[London]] |pages=242 |language=en-UK}}</ref> The ADF is supported by a significant budget by worldwide standards and is well equipped and trained, with defence spending at 2.04% of GDP (as of 2023/24).<ref name="Budget" />

[[Section 68 of the Constitution of Australia|Section 68 of the Constitution]] sets out the ADF's command arrangements. The Section states that "the command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] as the [[Monarchy of Australia|QueenKing's]] representative".<ref name="ACs68">{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Australian Constitution|68}}.</ref> In practice, the Governor-General does not play an active part in the ADF's command structure, and the elected government controls the ADF. The [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]] and several subordinate ministers [[Civilian control of the military|exercise this control]]. The Minister acts on most matters alone, though the [[National Security Committee of Cabinet]] considers important matters. The Minister then advises the Governor-General who acts as advised in the normal form of [[executive government]].{{sfn|Khosa|2010|p=2}} The Commonwealth Government has never been required by the Constitution or legislation to seek [[Parliament of Australia|parliamentary]] approval for decisions to deploy military forces overseas or go to war.{{sfn|McKeown|Jordan|2010|p=1}}

The importance of [[joint warfare]] was made clear to the Australian military during World War II when Australian naval, ground and air units frequently served as part of single commands. Following the war, several senior officers lobbied for the appointment of a [[commander in chief|commander-in-chief]] of the three services. The government rejected this proposal and the three services remained fully independent.{{sfn|Horner|2001|p=42}} The absence of a central authority resulted in poor coordination between the services, with each service organising and operating on the basis of aunder different [[military doctrine]].{{sfn|Horner|2001|p=44}}

The need for an integrated command structure received more emphasis asdue a result of theto inefficient arrangements which at times hindered the military's efforts [[Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War|during the Vietnam War]] which at times hindered the military's efforts.{{sfn|Horner|2001|p=44}} In 1973, the Secretary of the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]], [[Arthur Tange]], submitted a report to the Government that recommended the unification of the separate departments supporting each service intounder a single ''Department of Defence,'' and the creation of the postposition of Chief of the Defence Force Staff. The government accepted these recommendations, and the Australian Defence Force was established on 9 February 1976.{{sfn|Horner|2001|p=47}}

In 1996, [[John Howard]] led the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party's]] election campaign and became Prime Minister. Subsequently, there were significant reforms to the ADF's force structure and role. The new government's defence strategy placed less emphasis on defending Australia from direct attack and greater emphasis on working in co-operation with regional states and [[Foreign relations of Australia|Australia's allies]] to manage potential security threats.{{sfn|Horner|2001|pp=95–96}} From 1997 the Government also implemented a series of changes to the ADF's force structure in an attempt to increase the proportion of combat units to support units and improve the ADF's combat effectiveness.{{sfn|Horner|2001|pp=93–95}}

The ADF's experiences during the [[International Force for East Timor|deployment to East Timor in 1999]] led to significant changes in Australia's defence policies and to, an enhancement of the ADF's ability to conduct operations outside Australia. This successful deployment was the first time a large ADF force had operated outside of Australia since the Vietnam War, and revealed shortcomings in its ability to mount and sustain such operations.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jenny |last=Sinclair |title=Operation Chaos |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/19/1037490107525.html |work=[[The Age]] |date=19 December 2002 |access-date=6 July 2007 |archive-date=29 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429222024/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/19/1037490107525.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2000, the ADF's expanded force structure and deployment capabilities have been put to the test on several occasions. Following the [[September 11 September attacks|11 September 2001 terrorist attacks]] on the United States, Australia committed a [[special forces]] task group and an [[air-to-air refuelling]] aircraft to operations in [[Afghanistan]], and naval warships to the Persian Gulf as [[Operation Slipper]].{{sfn|Dennis et al|2008|pp=8–9}} In 2003, approximately 2,000 ADF personnel, including a special forces task group, three warships and 14 [[F/A-18 Hornet]] aircraft, took part in the [[Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]].{{sfn|Dennis et al|2008|p=248}}

An investigation of allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan was completed in November 2020. The [[Brereton Report]] found that there was evidence that 25 Australian special forces personnel committed war crimes on 25 occasions, resulting in the deaths of 39 people and the mistreatment of two others. General [[Angus Campbell (general)|Angus Campbell]] accepted all of the 143 recommendations made in the report.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grattan |first1=Michelle |title=Evidence of war crimes found against 25 Australian soldiers in Afghanistan |url=https://theconversation.com/evidence-of-war-crimes-found-against-25-australian-soldiers-in-afghanistan-150377 |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=The Conversation |date=19 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> An Office of the Special Investigator was subsequently established to conduct criminal investigations, and the first soldier was charged with war crimes in March 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doherty |first1=Ben |title=Australian defence chief warns further criminal charges could be laid over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/11/defence-chief-flags-more-allegations-of-afghanistan-war-crimes-made-against-australian-soldiers |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=11 April 2023}}</ref>

The election of the ALP [[Albanese government]] in May 2022 did not significantly change Australia's defence posture, as the ALP and Coalition parties have broadly similar defence policies. This includes an agreement on China posing a threat to Australia's security. The main difference is that the ALP sees [[climate change]] as an important security issue.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Daniel |title=Peter Dutton casts Coalition as stronger than Labor on defence as election nears – so how different are they? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/19/peter-dutton-casts-coalition-as-stronger-than-labor-on-defence-as-election-nears-so-how-different-are-they |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=18 March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|International Institute for Strategic Studies|2023|p=216}} After coming to power, the Albanese government commissioned athe new[[Defence defenceStrategic strategic reviewReview]] that was publicly released in April 2023. The review found that the security challenges facing Australia had continued to worsen, and called for the ADF to be restructured to meet the threats. This includes transitioning the ADF from its traditional structure of a "balanced force" capable of a range of activities to a "focused force" tailored mainly to protecting Australia from military attack or [[coercion]]. As part of this change, the review recommended reducing the planned size of the Army's mechanised forces and expanding its long-range firepower. The review also identified climate change as a threat to Australia and called for a "whole of nation effort" to defending Australia that goes beyond the ADF.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blaxland |first1=John |author1-link=John Blaxland (historian) |title=The much-anticipated defence review is here. So what does it say, and what does it mean for Australia? |url=https://theconversation.com/the-much-anticipated-defence-review-is-here-so-what-does-it-say-and-what-does-it-mean-for-australia-204267 |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=The Conversation |date=24 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The government accepted most of the review's recommendations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Daniel |title=Defence strategic review: Australia will build longer range military power amid 'radically different' security environment |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/24/australia-defence-strategic-review-missile-production-corvette-warships-adf-australian-military-news |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=24 April 2023}}</ref>

The Australian Defence Force and Department of Defence make up the [[Australian Defence Organisation]] (ADO), which is often referred to as "'Defence"'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who we are and what we do|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/AboutUs.asp|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111060554/http://www.defence.gov.au/AboutUs.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[diarchy]] of the [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Chief of the Defence Force]] (CDF) and the Secretary of the Department of Defence administers the ADO.{{sfn|Khosa|2011|pp=2–3}} The Department of Defence is staffed by both civilian and military personnel, and includes agencies such as the [[Defence Intelligence Organisation]] (DIO) and [[Defence Science and Technology Group]] (DST Group).{{sfn|Khosa|2010|pp=50–51}}

Operational command of the ADF is exercised by HQJOC, which is located at a purpose-built facility near [[Bungendore, New South Wales|Bungendore]], New South Wales. This is a joint headquarters comprising personnel from the three services and includes a continuously manned Joint Control Centre. HQJOC's main role is to "plan, monitor and control" ADF operations and exercises, and it is organised around groups of plans, operations and support staff. HQJOC also monitors the readiness of the ADF units which are not assigned to operations and contributes to developing Australia's military doctrine.{{sfn|Khosa|2011|p=14}}

In 2023, after the release of the [[Defence Strategic Review (DSR)]] and a recommendation to consolidate the ADF's guided weapons and explosive ordnance (GWEO) across the services, leading to the creation of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group (GWEOG), and the appointment of Air Marshal Leon Phillips, OAM as its head. This moved the responsibility of acquisition and sustainment of Explosive Materiel within the ADF's explosive materiel from CASG to the newly formed GWEOG.

Each of the three services has its own intelligence collection assets.{{sfn|Horner|2001|p=150}} RAN doctrine stresses the importance of collecting a wide range of information, and combining it to inform decisions. It also notes that the [[Collins-class submarine|''Collins''-class submarines]] are particularly effective sources of "acoustic, electromagnetic and environmental information".{{sfn|Chief of Navy|2017|pp=19, 165}} The Army's intelligence and surveillance units include the [[1st Intelligence Battalion (Australia)|1st Intelligence Battalion]], [[7th Signal Regiment (Australia)|7th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)]], [[20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery|20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment]], three [[Regional Force Surveillance Units]] and the [[Australian Special Air Service Regiment|Special Air Service Regiment]].{{sfn|Australian Army|2014|pp=8–9, 27}} The RAAF monitors the airspace of Australia and neighbouring countries using the [[Vigilare]] system, which combines input from the service's [[Jindalee Operational Radar Network]], other ADF air defence radars (including airborne and naval systems) and civilian air traffic control radars.{{sfn|Pittaway|2014|p=76}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Kerr|first=Julian|title=Vigilare up and running|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/vigilare-up-and-running/story-e6frg8yo-1225940235791|access-date=5 April 2014|newspaper=The Australian|date=23 October 2010}}</ref> The RAAF's other intelligence assets include [[No. 87 Squadron RAAF|No. 87 Squadron]] and the [[Lockheed AP-3C Orion|AP-3C Orion]] aircraft operated by [[No. 92 Wing RAAF|No. 92 Wing]].{{sfn|Khosa|2011|pp=31–35}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Warfare Centre|date=3 November 2017|url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/structure/air-command-headquarters/air-warfare-centre|publisher=Royal Australian Air Force|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143208/https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/structure/air-command-headquarters/air-warfare-centre|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[C band (IEEE)|C band]] radar and a telescope located at [[Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt]] provide a space situational awareness capability, which includes tracking space assets and debris.{{sfn|Air Power Development Centre|2016|p=41}} Australia also provides personnel to the US [[Joint Space Operations Center]] in Colorado Springs which tracks and identifies any man-made object in orbit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/space/2015/04/14/us-certifies-canadian-jspoc-chief/25785147/|title=US Certifies Canadian JSpOC Chief|last=Mehta|first=Aaron|journal=Defense News|date=14 April 2015|access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref>

The [[Defence Intelligence and Security Group|Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group]] within the Department of Defence supports the services and co-operates with the civilian agencies within the [[List of Australian intelligence agencies|Australian Intelligence Community]]. This Group consists of the [[Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation]] (AGO), [[Australian Signals Directorate]] (ASD) and [[Defence Intelligence Organisation]] (DIO). The AGO is responsible for [[GEOINT|geospatial intelligence]] and producing maps for the ADF, the ASD, originally the Defence Signals Directorate, is Australia's [[signals intelligence]] agency, and the DIO is responsible for the analysis of intelligence collected by the other intelligence agencies. The three agencies are headquartered in Canberra, though the AGO has staff in [[Bendigo, Victoria|Bendigo]] and the ASD maintains several permanent signals collection facilities in other locations.{{sfn|Khosa|2011|p=125}}

Despite the expansion in the number of positions available to women and other changes which aim to encourage increased female recruitment and retention, the growth in the proportion of female permanent defence personnel has been slow.{{sfn|Thomson|2017|p=80}} In the 1989–1990 financial year women made up 11.4% of the ADF personnel. In the 2008–2009 financial year women occupied 13.5% of ADF positions. During the same period the proportion of civilian positions filled by women in the Australian Defence Organisation increased from 30.8% to 42.8%.{{sfn|Khosa|2010|p=79}} In 2017–2018, women made up 17.9% of the ADF's permanent force. The proportion of women in the permanent force differs by service: 14.3% of members of the Army are female, compared to 21.5% of the RAN and 22.1% for the RAAF.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/annualreports/17-18/Downloads/WomenInTheADFReport2017-18.pdf|title=Women in the ADF Report 2017–18|publisher=Australian Government Department of Defence|access-date=12 July 2019|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712043225/http://www.defence.gov.au/annualreports/17-18/Downloads/WomenInTheADFReport2017-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015 the ADF adopted targets to increase the proportion of service personnel who are female by 2023: by this time it is planned that women will make up 25% of the RAN, 15% of the Army and 25% of the RAAF.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=Helen|title=Australian Defence Force creates targets to increase number of female recruits|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/24/australian-defence-force-creates-targets-to-increase-number-of-female-recruits|access-date=24 March 2015|work=The GuadianGuardian |date=24 March 2015|archive-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324092310/http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/24/australian-defence-force-creates-targets-to-increase-number-of-female-recruits|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Department of Defence|2016|pp=5–8}}

The ADF is equipped with [[conventional weapon]]s only. Australia [[Australia and weapons of mass destruction|does not possess]] [[weapons of mass destruction]] and has ratified the [[Biological Weapons Convention]], [[Chemical Weapons Convention]] and [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]].{{sfn|Khosa|2011|pp=98–99}} The Australian Government is committed to encouraging [[nuclear disarmament]] internationally.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nuclear Weapons |url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/non-proliferation-disarmament-arms-control/nuclear-weapons |publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref> Australia is also a party to international agreements which prohibit [[land mine]]s and [[cluster munition]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mine action|url=http://dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/non-proliferation-disarmament-arms-control/conventional-weapons-missiles/mine-action/pages/mine-action.aspx|publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107175100/http://dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/non-proliferation-disarmament-arms-control/conventional-weapons-missiles/mine-action/pages/mine-action.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Royal Australian Navy has two main bases; [[Fleet Base East]] (HMAS ''Kuttabul'') in Sydney and [[Fleet Base West]] (HMAS ''Stirling'') near Perth. The Navy's operational headquarters, Fleet Headquarters, is located adjacent to Fleet Base East. The majority of the Navy's patrol boats are based at {{HMAS|Coonawarra}} in [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], Northern Territory, with the remaining patrol boats and the hydrographic fleet located at {{HMAS|Cairns|naval base|6}} in [[Cairns]]. The [[Fleet Air Arm (RAN)|Fleet Air Arm]] is based at {{HMAS|Albatross|air station|6}} near [[Nowra, New South Wales|Nowra]], New South Wales.{{sfn|Chief of Navy|2017|pp=195–203}}

The Australian Army's regular units are concentrated in a few bases, most of which are located in Australia's northern states. The Army's operational headquarters, Forces Command, is located at [[Victoria Barracks, Sydney|Victoria Barracks]] in Sydney. Most elements of the Army's three regular brigades are based at [[Robertson Barracks]] near Darwin, [[Lavarack Barracks]] in [[Townsville]], [[Queensland]], and [[Gallipoli Barracks]] in Brisbane. The 1st Division's Headquarters is also located at Gallipoli Barracks. Other important Army bases include the [[Oakey Army Aviation Centre|Army Aviation Centre]] near [[Oakey, Queensland|Oakey]], Queensland, [[Holsworthy Barracks]] near Sydney, [[Woodside Barracks]] near [[Adelaide, South Australia|Adelaide]], South Australia, and [[Campbell Barracks (Australia)|Campbell Barracks]] in Perth. Dozens of [[Australian Army Reserve|Army Reserve]] depots are located across Australia.{{sfn|Australian Army|2014|pp=52–54}}

The Royal Australian Air Force maintains several air bases, including three which are only occasionally activated. The RAAF's operational headquarters, [[RAAF Air Command|Air Command]], is located at [[RAAF Base Glenbrook]] near Sydney. The Air Force's combat aircraft are based at [[RAAF Base Amberley]] near [[Ipswich, Queensland|Ipswich]], Queensland, [[RAAF Base Tindal]] near [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]], Northern Territory, and [[RAAF Base Williamtown]] near [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], New South Wales. The RAAF's maritime patrol aircraft are based at [[RAAF Base Edinburgh]] near Adelaide and most of its transport aircraft are based at [[RAAF Base Richmond]] in Sydney. RAAF Base Edinburgh is also home to the control centre for the [[Jindalee Operational Radar Network]]. Most of the RAAF's training aircraft are based at [[RAAF Base Pearce]] near Perth with the remaining aircraft located at [[RAAF Base East Sale]] near [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]], Victoria, and RAAF Base Williamtown. The RAAF also maintains a network of bases in northern Australia to support operations to Australia's north. These bases include [[RAAF Base Darwin]] and [[RAAF Base Townsville]] and three [[RAAF Bare Bases|'bare bases']] in [[Queensland]] and Western Australia.{{sfn|Air Power Development Centre|2015|pp=31, 44–45, 57}} Of the RAAF's operational bases, only Tindal is located near an area in which the service's aircraft might feasibly see combat. While this protects the majority of the RAAF's assets from air attack, most air bases are poorly defended and aircraft are generally hangared in un-hardened shelters.{{sfn|Peacock|von Rosenbach|2011|p=28}}

[[File:Philippines Soldiers and Australian Special Forces Soldier, clear a room during close quarters battle training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 12, 2017.jpg | thumb|left|alt=Colour photo of two soldiers armed with rifles inside a building|An Australian commando (at left) training with a Filipino soldier in 2017]]

The United States maintains intelligence and communications facilities in Australia which are staffed by 1,700 personnel. The intelligence facilities comprise the [[Pine Gap]] satellite tracking station near [[Alice Springs]] and Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt near [[Exmouth, Western Australia|Exmouth]], Western Australia.{{sfn|International Institute for Strategic Studies|2023|p=232}} Pine Gap is jointly operated by Australian and United States personnel and Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt has been an exclusively Australian-operated facility since 1999.{{sfn|Ball|Robinson|Tranter|2016|pp=53–54}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tranter|first1=Richard|title=Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt (North West Cape)|url=https://nautilus.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/defence-facilities/naval-communication-station-harold-e-holt-north-west-cape/|website=Australian Defence Facilities|publisher=Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability|date=8 March 2011|access-date=31 December 2017|archive-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231155416/https://nautilus.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/defence-facilities/naval-communication-station-harold-e-holt-north-west-cape/|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2007 the Australian Government approved the construction of a new US communications installation at the Defence Signals Directorate [[Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station]] facility near [[Geraldton, Western Australia|Geraldton]], Western Australia, to provide a ground station for the US-led [[Wideband Global SATCOM|Wideband Global System]] which Australia is partly funding.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tranter|first1=Richard|title=Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station, Kojarena|url=https://nautilus.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/defence-facilities/australian-defence-satellite-communications-station-kojarena/|website=Australian Defence Facilities|publisher=Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability|date=6 October 2014|access-date=31 December 2017|archive-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231155422/https://nautilus.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/defence-facilities/australian-defence-satellite-communications-station-kojarena/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Cameron|title=WA spy station to target terror|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/wa-spy-station-to-target-terror/news-story/f3d2a722366a8def79b58e251f485293|access-date=31 December 2017|work=The Australian|date=8 July 2014}}</ref> The [[United States Military]] also frequently uses Australian exercise areas and these facilities have been upgraded to support joint Australian-United States training.<ref>{{cite news |first=Craig |last=Skehan |author2=Wilkinson, Marian |author3=Murdoch, Lindsay |title=New bases for US forces in far north Australia |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000295713.html?from=storylhs |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 July 2004 |access-date=7 April 2007 |archive-date=13 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013072629/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000295713.html?from=storylhs |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2011, the Australian and American Governments announced plans to base on rotational basis a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] in the Northern Territory for training and exercise purposes and increase rotations of [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) aircraft through northern Australia.<ref>{{cite press release |author1=Prime Minister |title=Australia-United States Force Posture Initiatives |url=http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/australia-united-states-force-posture-initiatives |website=Prime Minister |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122083953/http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/australia-united-states-force-posture-initiatives |archive-date=22 November 2011 |date=16 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nicholson|first=Brendan|title=Elite northern unit gives US access in a crisis|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/obama-in-australia/elite-northern-unit-gives-us-access-in-a-crisis/story-fnb0o39u-1226197274548|access-date=20 November 2011|newspaper=The Australian|date=17 November 2011|archive-date=19 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119015951/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/obama-in-australia/elite-northern-unit-gives-us-access-in-a-crisis/story-fnb0o39u-1226197274548|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of this agreement, the [[Marine Rotational Force&nbsp;– Darwin]] has been deployed to Australia for six months each year since 2012. It is planned for this force to eventually comprise around 2,500 personnel with supporting aircraft and equipment.{{sfn|Joint Standing Committee on Treaties|2014|p=3}} The expanded rotations of USAF units to Australia began in early 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=USAF F-22s arrive in Australia for joint training exercises with the RAAF|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/02/usaf-f-22s-head-to-australia-for-joint-training-exercises-with-the-raaf/|access-date=31 December 2017|work=Australian Aviation|date=10 February 2017|archive-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231212100/http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/02/usaf-f-22s-head-to-australia-for-joint-training-exercises-with-the-raaf/|url-status=live}}</ref>