Brendan Nicholson
TWELVE of the RAAF's FA-18 Hornet jet fighter bombers will take turns sweeping the skies over Canberra and Darwin day and night during Barack Obama's visit.
When the US President is on the ground, special forces will be close by all along his route.
Announcements on closer defence co-operation to be made by Mr Obama and Julia Gillard this week will be the culmination of 18 months' work by defence teams from Australia and the US.
Australian defence officials have been working with the US on its global force posture review, developing a strategy to deal largely with the growing military power of China. Their US counterparts have been working with the Australians on the local force posture review, ordered this year by Defence Minister Stephen Smith to ensure the strategies are complementary.
Read the full story at The Australian