Executive summary 2

Policy recommendations 2

Introduction 3

The northern littoral theatre 4

  From concept to capability and structure 4

  Division of responsibility 6

  New capabilities, new logistic demands 6

  Enabling capabilities 7

  The US logistics integration 7

Designing the future logistics system 8

  One system, multiple nodes 8

  Darwin: northern force projection, sustainment and allied node 9

  Townsville: northeastern combat, littoral and logistics node 10

  Northwestern Australia: the western axis 10

  Brisbane: command, generation and specialist support 10

  Where the northern system currently breaks 10

  Critical dependencies 12

Connecting Australian industry to regional sustainment 13

  Case study: GenPower Services and Supacat Asia Pacific 13

Conclusion 14

Notes 15

Acronyms and abbreviations 16