The first soil on RAAF Tindal's redevelopment has been turned! It's due to be completed in late 2027. This thread is about why I'm counting down the days. https://twitter.com/lindareynoldswa/status/1302822781529153537?s=20

It's easy to overlook/ignore the importance that airbase infrastructure upgrades play in delivering capability increases. Tindal's remote nature means it may not feature in some people's imagination. But it absolutely should.
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/11-billion-investment-commences-raaf-base-tindal

In my opinion, it's hard to imagine another recent RAAF airbase infrastructure works that will make quite the impact of what's about to happen at Tindal (and I invite debate if there are!). Cocos Island's runway has gotten some press coverage this week, sure.

Williamtown & Amberley have seen some pretty dramatic changes to allow them to operate new platforms too. And certainly the impact of the P8A is being felt much further beyond Edinburgh. https://www.defence.gov.au/id/Air7000Phase2B/Default.asp

But the scope of the Tindal works is really important, and not just for the sake of supporting the US Force Posture Initiative.

What's in the pipeline for Tindal? Basically, everything you need/want to operate a KC30A to full extent of its capability. Runway extension from 9000 to 11000ft; taxiway works; four new large aircraft parking positions; 6 mega litre fuel farm; new Air Movements terminal.

But wait, there's more - new accommodation, base infrastructure, etc - you can read all about it at https://www.defence.gov.au/id/RAAF-Tindal/Project-Elements-Tindal.asp#6.

Obviously, the parking isn't reserved for just KC30As, but we can use the MRTT as a good metric for other large aircraft - and even smaller ones - that the base can now more easily support.

The 'so what?' here is: 4 extra parking positions & a longer runway in the NT, with all of the surrounding amenities to extract full value from that infrastructure, is a significant increase in strategic options for the RAAF in northern Australia.

That extended runway will be on the doorstep of our major air ranges (which have some of the biggest/best military training airspace in the world), and is 'regionally accessible' for our neighbouring air forces that may wish to train here.

Take Exercise Pitch Black as an example. Attendance is routinely limited not by foreign interest, but by capacity - for aircraft parking, working space, and accommodation. https://www.airforce.gov.au/news-and-events/news/international-element-exercise-pitch-black

Parking space at Tindal and Darwin are maxed out - we even lay out airfield matting - and we have to make a decision about what assets can/can't participate, or get operated interstate.

Pitch Black's over-subscribed interest requires RAAF to fly KC30A missions from the East Coast for the morning mission; refuel/swap crew in Darwin between missions; and launch again for the evening mission, returning to the East Coast.

East Coast basing provides some flexibility in airframe/crew planning, and 'technically' working from home, but chews up flying hours/crew duty/fuel, and denies opportunities for pilots & AROs to train together.

Having extra parking positions to operate KC30As from Tindal - or any tanker/heavy airlift, for that matter - puts them on the doorstep of the exercise airspace. Once they take off, I would assume they spend most of the transit climbing to altitude.

With extra parking at Tindal, would KC30As base there for "Ex Pitch Black '28"? It's not guaranteed, but an option to do so would exist, whereas it doesn't now. The flexibility extends to visiting tankers, airlift, and surveillance platforms that might normally go to Darwin.

The benefit of those parking positions extends beyond Pitch Black. The RAAF can potentially host concurrent/adjacent operations & exercises from 2 bases in the NT throughout most of the year. That's a massive drawcard for local & international units who want to use the airspace.

Here's another reason why this infrastructure is good: Having both our NT airbases capable of supporting KC30As to their full capacity provides some element of redundancy during high-risk weather seasons (such as a cyclone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Tracy#Reconstruction_and_effects_on_Darwin).

You can probably use your imagination for why the NT having two 11,000ft runways with parking positions/fuel infrastructure is a good security outcome if we're ever attacked, but there are reasons beyond "we can still project force if required".

Two bases in the NT for heavy airlift increases our capacity if we're placed on standby to deploy for a HADR response - such as if we need to effectively 'wait' to arrive - or alternatively, having a peacekeeping force on standby until it's approprirate to send them in.

I recognise I've spent a thread about infrastructure talking a lot about an aircraft, but the point is: the KC-30A has been in service since 2011, & coming into service since 2004. Having one more RAAF base that can operate it to the full extent of its capability is important.

We often take airbase infrastructure for granted, because aircraft are often flexible enough to find a workaround or alternate airfield. To date, KC30s have been able to get along fine because the combination of Amberley/Darwin/civilian airports.

Tindal's redevelopment is going to be a massive asset for the RAAF, and one that's going to make us a significantly more attractive security partner within the region - and we're already riding pretty high in that respect.

Incidently, it's 2610 days until November 2027.