US explores converting remote Australian airfields into large-scale jet fuel depots
The United States is assessing the feasibility of turning several sparsely staffed Australian airbases into major jet-fuel storage sites, with proposals for up to 190 million litres at Curtin, Learmonth and Amberley.
At RAAF Base Tindal, new bomb shelters signal heightened vigilance over Australia’s northern approaches, and the United States has been studying whether remote airfields could serve as large jet-fuel depots. A 2023 US request sought proposals to store over 190 million litres at RAAF Curtin, RAAF Learmonth and RAAF Amberley, though the solicitation is now listed as inactive. Defence Minister Richard Marles welcomed any expansion, noting it aligns with the government’s broader northern-Australia strategy.
US Marine Colonel George Flynn cautioned that the rotating force in Darwin can be interpreted by any nation, while Air Marshal Stephen Chappell stressed that joint capability with the US sends a deterrent signal. Security analyst Ian Langford warned that Australia’s current air-and-missile defences lag behind emerging threats, and the Integrated Investment Plan earmarks up to $30 billion for upgrades over the next decade. The developments coincide with Exercise Pitch Black, a multinational air war game that showcases alliance interoperability in the region.
Why it matters
Expanding fuel capacity strengthens US-Australia defence ties and boosts Australia’s ability to project power in a contested Indo-Pacific.
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