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The Australian federal government has welcomed a new United States-funded fuel facility completed at RAAF Base Darwin as a significant milestone in the partnership between Australia and the US.
Valued at US$76 million, the fuel storage project was managed by the United States Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific with the construction contract awarded to Nova Nacap JV, a United States–Australian joint venture. Construction was completed in June 2023.
The newly completed fuel facility is designed to enhance operational capabilities and support for training exercises to enable enhanced air cooperation between the countries and is a significant investment under the United States Force Posture Initiatives (USFPI) infrastructure program.
Australian businesses and joint ventures have won four of the five US-funded contracts for capital infrastructure delivery under the Force Posture Agreement, representing approximately US$198 million of United States investment since the start of the USFPI.
Celia Perkins, Deputy Secretary Security and Estate, said Australia and the United States are investing in a range of projects to enable enhanced force posture cooperation, with significant opportunities for Australian industry involvement across sectors including construction, professional services, maintenance, and logistics.
“Defence has engaged extensively with the United States on this project ensuring we have the enablers in place to best support activities under the Force Posture Agreement,” Perkins said.
“Infrastructure to support USPFI is located across the Defence estate, including at Robertson Barracks and RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal, as well as training areas across the Northern Territory.”
The Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC) was originally announced as an initiative in February 2017. The program, designed to deepen air-to-air integration, includes activities relating to integration of advanced and combined warfighting capabilities, collaborative airbase operations and combat support, cooperation with air-power enabling capabilities, collaborative logistics supporting airpower, and bilateral regional engagement.
