Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill on Wednesday announced that Australia’s largest operational air force base will undergo a 285 million-dollar (220 million US dollars) redevelopment
Under the project, Amberley, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base in the state of Queensland, will be home to Defense’s fleet of new air-to-air refuelling aircraft, according to Hill.
The personnel number at the base will increase by about 780 from 2,500, said Hill, adding the base has considerable capacity for expansion. The redevelopment is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
“The redevelopment involves three main components which include relocating the Army battalion, upgrading engineering services and relocating the RAAF’s No 33 Squadron to support the air-to-air refuellers scheduled to enter service in 2009,” Hill said in a statement.
Hill said the 9th Force Support Battalion is the Army’s main heavy lift road transport capability to move military stores and equipment, and the collocation of the Battalion will provide more efficiencies in command, administration and logistics.
The project will upgrade electrical, water supply, sewerage, storm water and communications networks, as well as the trunk road system, and will also include strengthening the runway and taxiways for the new refueling aircraft, providing new aircraft parking spaces, a new maintenance hangar and office accommodation.
Last year, the Defense signed a contract with Spanish company, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Construcciones Aeronauticas S.A. to provide five new A330 refuelling aircraft, known as Multi Role Tanker Transports.
RAAF’s No 33 Squadron will move from Richmond to support the new aircraft which will be capable of refuelling F/A-18, F-111, Airborne Early Warning and Control, and Joint Strike Fighter aircraft as well as having significant strategic lift capability, according to the statement.
