Major changes to the army will involve generalist units being restructured to specialist combat brigades, with hundreds of soldiers moving north.

The Darwin-based 1st Brigade will be light combat, while the 3rd Brigade based in Townsville will be armoured combat and the 7th Brigade in Brisbane a motorised unit.

A new 10th Brigade will also be set up in Adelaide that will focus on long-range firing capabilities, along with air and missile defence.

The changes stem from major findings from a landmark review into Australia’s defence force, which found land forces needed a restructure.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the changes would make sure Australia would have an army of the future.

“We will have our three combat brigades in our northern bases which is exactly what the defence strategic review sought in the recommendations that it made … this is an important step for our army,” he told reporters in Townsville.

“This builds an army which will be able to protect, which is what we are seeking to do as a result of the defence strategic review and this is the basis upon which we will be creating the army we need for Australia’s future.”

The restructure will relocate about 800 army personnel, with about 500 of those to be based in Townsville. Adelaide won’t see a return to current numbers until 2027 or 2028.

Mr Marles said the restructure would take five to six years to fully implement.

“This is about making sure that we are leading the challenge that’s been provided to us by the defence strategic review, having a focus on our forward bases,” he said.

“In trying to bring to bear three highly effective world-class combat brigades, that provides really exciting opportunities and really exciting prospects and careers for people who are in (the) army.”

The changes will make Townsville the home of the army’s armoured vehicles, while motorised combat will be a focus in Brisbane.

Acting Chief of Army Major General Richard Vagg said the changes would allow the defence force to be better resourced.

“We’ve got a unique opportunity with a number of new equipments starting to be delivered from next year, so we can position them at the point of need,” he said.

“Adaptation is in army’s DNA. As we adapt to this new structure, we’ll have an army that is optimised for operations in the littoral environment.”

The acceleration and expansion of medium and heavy coastal manoeuvre vessels, capable of transporting land forces, are also being considered including water landing craft.

The vessels could be based in Darwin, northern Queensland and Brisbane.

American landing craft could also be stationed in Australia to help plug capability gaps.

Armoured vehicles and army planes will be stationed in Townsville as will tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and Apache and Chinook helicopters, growing the army’s presence in north Queensland.

The move means Townsville will hold all the army’s armoured power and almost half of its aviation capabilities.

Abrams tanks, M113 armoured personnel carriers, Hawkeis, Bushmasters and towed Howitzer artillery will be moved from Brisbane.

Darwin will be refocused towards light, agile and quick strike forces.

TROOP MOVEMENTS:

* About 400 to 500 troops to move to Townsville

* About an extra 100 to 300 troops in Darwin

* Roughly 850 to 900 personnel will move from Adelaide to Brisbane and Darwin from 2025, before numbers in the South Australian capital track back towards current levels from 2027 or 2028

* No real change in Brisbane establishment, which is the number the organisation is supposed to have rather than the number of personnel stationed

WEAPONS MOVEMENTS:

* Townsville will hold all the army’s armoured power and almost half of its aviation capabilities

* This includes Abrams tanks, M113 armoured personnel carriers, Hawkeis, Bushmasters and towed Howitzer artillery

* Adelaide will become the home of Australia’s long-range strike capabilities and will host the 1st Armoured Regiment, which will become an innovation and experimentation unit that will integrate emerging technology

* Darwin will be refocused towards light, agile and quick strike forces

BRIGADE STATIONING:

* 1st Brigade will be a light combat brigade based in Darwin

* 3rd Brigade will be an armoured combat brigade based in Townsville

* 7th Brigade will be a motorised combat brigade based in Brisbane

* 10th Brigade will be raised as a fires brigade and based in Adelaide

DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS:

* That the defence force better utilise Australia’s north to prepare for future threats as well as invest in long-range strike capabilities

* The acquisition of medium and heavy land craft be accelerated and expanded to increase the ability to move ground forces

* Upgrade Australia’s northern bases, ports and barracks

KEY QUOTES:

* “This builds an army which will be able to protect.” – Defence Minister Richard Marles

*” Adaptation is in army’s DNA.” – Acting Chief of Army Major General Richard Vagg

* We need to be investing in army, our people, and combat power. Instead, we are shrinking our land forces to one armoured brigade, that means we only have one hand to play in a high-intensity conflict.” – Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie