Western Australia to boost US military presence

Jason Bourne · May 31, 2012

It appears as if Western Australia and the Cocos Islands will become operating bases for US naval vessels, stealth aircraft and drones.

Stealth fighter jets will be able to operate from bases in WA, a new airfield will be built in the Cocos Islands to host unmanned US drones and a port in Rockingham will be modernised to berth new submarines and American warships under a major plan unveiled by the Federal Government.

In a big reshuffle of defence assets and personnel unveiled by Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday, the Government signalled it would boost its military presence in WA to confront shifting power balances in the region.

The Government's so-called Force Posture Review says the small airfield in the Cocos Islands should be upgraded to supported "unrestricted" operations by P-8 patrol aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

It was revealed last month that the US was in talks with Canberra to base drones in the Cocos Islands to send spy flights over vital maritime routes through South-East Asia.

The basing of drones and any increased military presence in the islands is likely to anger China and Indonesia, who are both sensitive to any increased US presence in the region.

The review demands a major dredging operation in Cockburn Sound to open a second shipping channel into Garden Island, pointing out that currently warships and submarines have only one route in and out of HMAS Stirling.

It is recommended HMAS Stirling get a big upgrade with the building of new missile loading facilities and wharf capacity for the next generation of Australian submarines.

The review says small airstrips at Learmonth near Exmouth and Curtin near Derby should be "hardened" with aircraft shelters and fuel storage facilities so new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters can launch operations from WA, if needed.
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http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13596429/military-boost-focuses-on-wa/

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Western Australia to boost US military presence

Jason Bourne Well-Known Member Past Donor

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Western Australia to boost US military presence

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