The US has reached an agreement with Australia to conduct bomber and tanker rotatations through Australia's RAAF Base Tindal according to IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.
On 18 November at a Defense Writers' Group breakfast in Washington DC General Lori Robinson commander of the US Air Force's (USAF's) Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) said options were being studied for new bomber and tanker aircraft rotations and agreement had been reached between the two countries on a "force posture initiative".
"The idea is much like what we do in Guam – rotation of tankers and bombers to do training and working with Australian allies … as well as training our pilots and aircrew – to help them understand the vastness of that region," GEN Robinson said.
The bombers and tankers would rotate through Australia's RAAF Base Tindal, but details about numbers of aircraft and timings are still being negotiated.
"So that's all part of the conversations that we're having now," she added.
The new Northrop Grumman Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) could also be involved in that effort once it is deployed, GEN Robinson said.
"Our ability to power project through the theatre would be one of the capabilities that we would want to have because … that shows a commitment to the theatre."
"As we go forward it will probably … do continuous bomber presence just like we're doing now and provide that stability," she added.