The US plans to send B-52 nuclear bombers to Australia amid tensions with China, according to media reports.
The expansion of the Australian base will cost millions of dollars and is expected to be completed by 2026.
Sputnik - The U.S. military has developed a plan involving the deployment of B-52 strategic bombers for long-term, rotating missions.
According to ABC News, the Pentagon reported that it intends to create a "squadron operations facility," including a maintenance center and parking area, for six B-52 bombers at a Royal Australian Air Force base.
The expansion of the Australian base will cost millions of dollars and is expected to be completed by 2026. This will allow the base to support strategic operations and conduct multiple exercises.
"The ability to deploy U.S. Air Force bombers to Australia sends a strong message to adversaries about our capability to project lethal air power," the U.S. Air Force told ABC.
Although there was no official statement on the matter, a source told Reuters that a plan to stabilize the "facilities intended for bombers" was underway.
Currently, the US is already building a large aviation fuel depot in the Darwin region of Australia, 320 kilometers from Tindal Air Base.