Defence funds head into local communities

The government plans to spend around $26 billion on upgrading defence bases, money that will filter into communities across the nation.

Through the Defence White Paper, launched on Thursday, the government plans to improve the facilities needed to properly operate new warships and combat aircraft.

That includes upgrades to air forces bases so they can accommodate new aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning, Poseidon manned maritime patrol aircraft and Triton unmanned aircraft.

The airfield at Cocos (Keeling) Island will be improved to support Poseidon operations.

Major navy bases at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia and Fleet Base East in Sydney will be upgraded to handle an expanded fleet.

The army doesn't miss out with major bases and training areas to be renovated and improved.

The White Paper outlines greatly increased defence funding for new ships, aircraft, missiles and armoured vehicles, plus significant investment in what are termed "enablers" of defence capability, the defence bases.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government's priority was to ensure that many more defence dollars were spent in Australia.

"This increased commitment generates jobs, growth, innovation, right across the Australian economy and it's especially true of regional communities where (there are) so many of our Defence Forces and Defence industry contractors," he said.