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Australia will receive more frequent rotations of US military aircraft under new agreements from the 2024 Australia-US Ministerial Consultations meeting.
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Rotations of bombers, fighter aircraft, and Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft will be increased, according to a joint statement made by the two governments on 7 August.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Australian counterparts Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong in Annapolis, Maryland, for the 34th AUSMIN on 6 August.
“The United States continues to conduct more frequent rotational deployments to Australia across air, land, and maritime domains, including across northern Australia,” according to the joint statement.
“Furthering our Enhanced Air Cooperation, the United States will continue frequent rotations of bombers, fighter aircraft, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, building on previous rotations at RAAF Bases Amberley, Darwin, and Tindal.
“The United States and Australia continue to enhance the complexity and duration of regular rotations of US Army watercraft to Australia in furtherance of maritime and land cooperation, to increase interoperability, and enable regional engagement, including for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
“During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the United States and Australia plan to integrate new capabilities and test new operating assumptions, including through amphibious training activities at Shoalwater Bay. Seventeen nations have been invited to participate at next year’s exercise, which will be conducted across the breadth of Australia.
“(Both countries support) continuing to progress infrastructure investments at key Australian bases in the north, including RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal. Adding new locations for force posture cooperation, including RAAF Base Learmonth, as well as expanding ongoing infrastructure work at RAAF Bases Scherger and Curtin.
“(The US welcome) Australia’s planned infrastructure upgrades at Cocos (Keeling) Island ... (and) progress on the development of an air-launched hypersonic weapon under the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) and supporting the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) flight test program.
“The principals welcomed continuing collaborative efforts to develop and demonstrate an air-launched hypersonic weapon under the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment. Australia and the United States continue to make significant progress in design and ground testing, supporting the bilateral flight test program of Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile. Looking forward, the United States and Australia are working towards expanding this deep collaboration and transitioning the partnership on SCIFiRE and HACM to a fielded combat capability. Australia will consider HACM as a potential pathway to field its first air-launched hypersonic weapon.”
