The Townsville Aviation Centre of Excellence is billed as a “leading training facility for the next generation of defence aviation maintenance engineers” with simulation equipment such as aircraft maintenance trainers and virtual maintenance trainers, as well as other advanced system trainers.

Up to $25 million in total is available under the funding round, covering up to 50 per cent of project costs for safety and accessibility upgrades or 100 per cent for eligible Indigenous-owned or operated airstrips, capped at $4 million.

The statement highlighted the growing importance of space to modern military operations, underpinning communications, navigation, intelligence, surveillance and command and control.

The C-17A Globemaster III departed RAAF Base Amberley on Tuesday, carrying humanitarian aid to the mountainous nation which was recently struck by devastating flooding and mudslides.