Defence
Outlook
Defence investment continues to be an important contributor to economic activity in the Territory as Australia and its strategic defence partners remain committed to investment in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Territory serves as a strategic hub for national security, supporting Australian and allied defence personnel, assets and large-scale multinational exercises. This role is underpinned by ongoing Australian and United States (US) defence investment to support and strengthen regional operations and capability.
An estimated $8.2 billion in defence infrastructure investment is planned for the Territory over the next decade. This comprises $6.9 billion in approved planned investment underway and $1.3 billion in planned investment yet to be approved.
Employment and personnel
The number of Australian defence personnel posted in the Territory was around 5,400 persons in 2024-25, a decrease of 0.8% compared to the prior year and relatively steady over the last 5 years. The army comprises the majority of defence personnel in the Territory at 61% followed by the air force at 21%, with the remaining being in the navy and Commonwealth public servants. This composition has been evolving, with fewer army and navy personnel in recent years being offset by more air force personnel.
As a share of Australia’s defence personnel, the Territory trended lower to around 4.8% in 2024-25 (Chart 11).
Chart 11: Defence employment in the Territory
RHS: right-hand side; LHS: left-hand side
Source: Department of Defence Annual Report; Department of Treasury and Finance
International cooperation
The Territory has a vital role in strengthening Australia’s international cooperation with its allied partners and supporting its defence strategy. The Territory’s strategic location, landscape and diverse training areas allow for operating large-scale military training exercises, as well as hosting international forces.
Since 2012, the Territory has hosted the US Marine Rotational Forces-Darwin (MRF-D), a deployment of US marines that enhances Australian and US defence cooperation, interoperability and regional security. The MRF-D has grown in size, complexity and capability since its inception, with around 2,500 personnel in recent rotations.
Australia routinely participates in military exercises, to strengthen its defence alliances and enhance the skills of its military personnel. The Territory hosts annual and biannual international military exercises including:
- Exercise Talisman Sabre, led by Australian forces and US military, with an increasing contribution from partner nations
- Exercise Pitch Black, a large-scale air combat exercise
- Exercise Kakadu, an international maritime engagement exercise
- Exercise Predator’s Run, a littoral-focused multilateral training exercise typically including Australian, US, UK and Philippine forces.
These exercises bring together numerous nations and strengthen international alliances, while establishing the Territory as an important location for defence training in the Indo-Pacific region.
Projects
Significant defence projects are being delivered in the Territory over the next decade with around $6.9 billion of approved planned investment projects underway and $1.3 billion planned investment awaiting approval (Table 2).
These projects strengthen the Territory’s significance as a defence hub and provide local economic and employment opportunities across a range of sectors such as construction, maritime, aerospace, testing and evaluation, and maintenance and logistics. To support the link between this investment and local industry, the Territory Government established the Defence Industry Council in early 2026 to advance the Territory as a hub for maritime sustainment and maintenance, and grow defence jobs and local industry.
Defence projects extend across the air force, navy and army, and major defence sites in the Territory (Map 3).
Table 2: Defence approved and unapproved planned investment
| Planned investment | $M |
|---|---|
| RAAF Base Tindal redevelopment stage 6 and United States Force Posture Initiatives (USFPI) airfield and infrastructure works | 1582 |
| USFPI Northern Territory training areas and ranges upgrades | 747 |
| NAVFAC Darwin aircraft maintenance facilities program | 700 |
| Larrakeyah Defence Precinct redevelopment program | 602 |
| Facilities to support remotely piloted aircraft system | 427 |
| Robertson Barracks base improvements | 389 |
| RAAF Darwin and Mount Bundey airfield capital works | 352 |
| Navy capability infrastructure sub-program: offshore patrol vessel facilities | 247 |
| Facilities to support advanced growler | 228 |
| RAAF Base Tindal aircraft parking apron | 205 |
| RAAF Base Darwin mid-term refresh | 160 |
| Other1 | 1224 |
| Total approved planned investment | 6 862 |
| Guided weapons and explosive ordnance maintenance facility | 200 |
| Theatre logistics estate sub-program | 185 |
| Guided weapons and explosive ordnance storage and distribution | 120 |
| National Maritime Infrastructure maintenance program | 90 |
| Other | 698 |
| Total unapproved planned investment | 1 293 |
| Total planned investment | 8 155 |
RAAF: Royal Australian Air Force; USFPI: United States Force Posture Initiatives
1 Includes planned investment for Cocos Islands airfield upgrades
Source: Department of Treasury and Finance; Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet; Department of Defence Annual Report
For the latest information on the Territory’s defence sector, refer to the Territory Economy and DefenceNT websites.
Map 3: Major defence sites in the Territory
HMAS: His Majesty’s Australian Ship; RAAF: Royal Australian Air Force
Note: This map is produced from various sources. Department of Treasury and Finance cannot guarantee the accuracy, currency, or completeness of the information. To be used as a guide only.
1 The Jindalee Operational Radar Network has 2 operating facilities within the Alice Springs region, at Harts Range and Mount Everard.
Source: Department of Treasury and Finance; Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet; Department of Defence