Australia’s Unsinkable Aircraft Carriers

Cocos and Christmas Islands: Australia’s Unsinkable Aircraft Carriers

“Christmas and Cocos Islands are the most strategically important of Australia’s Indian Ocean territories. Located about one third of the way across the Indian Ocean, they are limited in dimensions, natural resources and populations but both possess important airfields. They are also located much closer to several regional countries than to mainland Australia. “

Both Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are Australian territories and prime strategic assets. They are by no means the only islands at Australia’s disposal with which to extend the operational range of aircraft or to use as advanced bases in a conflict or military standoff – Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman immediately come to mind as potential temporary bases of operations – but given their location one third out in the Indian Ocean, and given the military build up of some Asian nations with which relations can at times be somewhat strained, their strategic value cannot be under-estimated. This is borne out by Australian Defence Force recognition of the importance of the islands and other non mainland Australian assets, and highlighted by the publication of several books and articles, perhaps most notably that of defence analyst Ross Babbage, A Coast Too Long: Defending Australia beyond the 1990s.

Christmas Island is the closer of the two territories to Australia, located 2,623km from Perth and 987km from Northwest Cape, the closest point on the Australian mainland. It is also closest to Australia’s nearest Indian Ocean neighbour, Indonesia, being just 360km south of Java Head and the strategically vital Sunda Strait. The Cocos Islands are further out in the Indian Ocean, 2,768km north-west of Perth and 1,200km south-west of Java Head.

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