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The Australian government has given the green light for United States Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22 Osprey aircraft to be stored and maintained on Australian soil.
The tilt-rotor aircraft, capable of both vertical take-off and landing and high-speed flight, have been a familiar sight in the Top End for nearly a decade, supporting the annual Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) deployments.
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Since the first rotation in 2012, the contingent of Marines has grown from just 200 personnel to as many as 2,500, with troops and aircraft deployed from April through September each year.
Brigadier Mick Say, Director-General of the Force Posture Initiatives Branch, said the decision marked another step forward in Australia’s strategic partnership with the US.
The Ospreys are used to rapidly move Marines and equipment across northern Australia, while also bolstering joint training with the Australian Defence Force and strengthening security ties across the Indo-Pacific.
“For more than a decade, cooperation between Australia and the US under the Force Posture Agreement has enhanced our ability to deter coercion and maintain a secure and stable Indo-Pacific,” BRIG Say said.
For the first time, when the 14th MRF-D rotation wraps up later this year, some of the aircraft will remain behind. Defence officials say the move will increase the Osprey’s availability for exercises, reduce transportation costs, and ease the administrative burden on Australian border authorities.
BRIG Say added: “The storage of MV-22 Ospreys in Australia between rotations is consistent with that agreement and reflects the continuing deepening of our relationship with the United States.”
The move underscores the growing military integration between Australia and the US, as both nations look to strengthen deterrence and resilience in an increasingly contested region.
