RAAF Bare Bases

The Royal Australian Air Force currently maintains three Bare Bases in remote areas of Northern Australia. These bases were developed in the 1980s and 1990s in line with the Defence of Australia Policy in order to enhance the RAAF's ability to conduct combat operations from the Australian mainland. As front line bases, the bare bases are well provisioned with bunkers and other defensive facilities and have the capability to support the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornets and F-111 aircraft during wartime.

During peacetime the Bare Bases are maintained by a small caretaker staff drawn from No. 322 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron. Flying and support units are not permanently stationed at Bare Bases. The bases are, however, regularly activated during exercises with flying and support units deploying from other RAAF bases to staff the base for the duration of the exercise.

The three bare bases are:
* RAAF Scherger near Weipa, Queensland
* RAAF Curtin near Derby, Western Australia
* RAAF Learmonth near Exmouth, Western Australia

RAAF Tindal near Katherine, Northern Territory, was maintained as a Bare Base for a number of years before being upgraded in 1988 to a permanent operational base for No. 75 Squadron's F/A-18s.

References

* Royal Australian Air Force [http://www.airforce.gov.au/bases/barebases.htm Air Force Bare Bases]