us military bases in australia
General Military Questions

US Military Bases In Australia

There are two US military bases currently in Australia. One of them is operated by members of the United States intelligence community and another is operated by the United States Navy.

The Army, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard do not have bases in Australia. Learn more about each base below:

Intelligence

Pine Gap

Location: Alice Springs, Australia

pine gap alice springs australia
Image: Wikipedia.org

In Use: 1966-Present

Overall Mission: Since the Cold War, Pine Gap has served as a surveillance base.

It is jointly owned by the U.S. and Australia and was initially known as the “Joint Defence Space Research Facility.”

The official name changed in 1988 to the “Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap” and is responsible for monitoring the signals of satellite and intelligence signals including microwave emissions, anti-missile, and anti-aircraft radar, among others.

Units Stationed:

  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • National Security Agency (NSA)
  • US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Official Site: None

Related ArticleAir Force Bases in the US

US Navy Base in Australia

Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt

Location: Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia

ncs harold e holt navy base in australia
Image: Wikipedia.org

In use: 1967-Present

Overall Mission:The only other US military base in Australia is the Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt, located in northwestern Australia.

The station is operated and maintained by Australia’s Department of Defence, and it provides very low frequency (VLF) radio transmission communications to the United States Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and their allies.

It serves as a communication hubs for ships and submarines located in the western Pacific and eastern Indian oceans.

Units Stationed:

N/A

Rob V.
American Military Bases in Australia

American Military Bases in Australia

4.5 out of 5 (39 Ratings)

There are only 2 US Military Bases in Australia, and they are both fairly small in size. They include the Pine Gap Surveillance station, and the Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt.
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