Major upgrades at Nackeroo complete

Australia and the United States will now have greater training opportunities in northern Australia after the completion of upgrades to Nackeroo Airstrip at Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.

CAPTION: Nackeroo Airstrip at Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Eddie.

The upgrades to Nackeroo Airstrip include the extension of the runway and adding parking positions for aircraft, including C-17A Globemaster and MV-22 Osprey.

This will increase the capacity and capability for Australia and the United States, as part of our force posture cooperation, to conduct enhanced land and air operations out of the Bradshaw Field Training Area.

Nackeroo Airstrip upgrade is a major component of the $747 million United States Force Posture Initiatives Northern Territory Training Areas and Ranges Project, which will deliver essential upgrades to facilities and infrastructure at four Defence training areas in the Northern Territory.

This project will also provide a new medical facility, a 250-person training camp, urban operations training facility, accommodation camp and road upgrades at the Bradshaw Field Training Area.

Traditional Owners conducted a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony to mark the completion of works and to recognise the 20th anniversary of the site’s Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

Director General Capital Facilities and Infrastructure Branch for Defence Air Commodore Ron Tilley said the works at Bradshaw Field Training Area would enhance training opportunities between Australia and the United States with C-17 Globemaster and MV-22 Osprey aircraft now being able to land at the airstrip on a more regular basis and carrying heavier loads.

“This handover also builds upon Defence’s relationship with the local Traditional Owners of Bradshaw with whom Defence has a longstanding and collaborative Indigenous Land Use Agreement.”

 

 

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