More than 1500 US Marines to arrive in Darwin as part of record deployment

MORE than 1500 US Marines will begin arriving in the Top End this month

The US Marines are expected to complete the rotation of training in Australia in October

MORE than 1500 US Marines will begin arriving in the Top End later this month.

Elements of the 2018 Marine Rotational Force–Darwin (MRF-D) are to come to Darwin for the “seventh and largest rotation to date”.

The rotation will include 1,587 US Marines, eight MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and an artillery battery of six M777 Howitzers.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said the increased Marine rotation underscored the commitment of both the Australian and US Governments to the full implementation of the United States Force Posture Initiatives.

“These Initiatives strengthen the ability of Australia and the US to work together, and with regional partners, in the interests of regional stability and security,” she said.

“During major exercises the rotation will include additional equipment and assets such as AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, UH-1Y Venom helicopters, F/A-18 Hornet aircraft and MC-130 Hercules aircraft.

“During the six-month training period, the US Marines are expected to participate in 15 training activities alongside the ADF.

“Other regional nations, including Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and many more will also participate in or observe some of these training activities.”

The US Marines are expected to complete the rotation of training in Australia in October.