There are three air force bases in Western Australia, the main base is RAAF Base Pearce at Bullsbrook, just 35 km north of Perth, there is RAAF Base Learmonth and RAAF Base Curtin, 30 km from Derby.  

The main base is RAAF Base Pearce, but what does it really offer in terms of defence capability? There are no fighter jets stationed here, so no F-18 Hornets or Super Hornets and no F-35 Lightning II. This is the training base with PC-9A to be replaced in 2019 with the Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft. These are turboprop aircraft, not jet aircraft. RAAF Base Pearce is primarily a training centre in the early stages before pilots are sent to Williamtown for more advanced training and a logistics centre, there are pretty much no defensive capabilities stationed here. No79 Squadron 

The RAAF Base Learmonth is a commercial airport with an [as required] potential to stage air force resources. As there are no fighter aircraft stationed in the whole of Western Australia, the largest state in the country comprising one third of the land mass of the country, all the critical northwest assets are exposed.

I would think RAAF Base Curtin is designated the region’s premier air force base with RAAF Base Learmonth designated as a support base where air assets can be redeployed from RAAF Base Curtin. The Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station is located on the Exmouth peninsular, very close to RAAF Base Learmonth, so the requirement for air force support is real. 

RAAF Base Curtin is another part time base, or bare base, that is primarily a commercial airport for the town of Derby with a population of 3325. The purpose of this bare base is to protect the north west approaches to Australia, yet, in all likelihood, it will probably not do that at all. There needs to be serious infrastructure at a fighter base, it has no real infrastructure and the ability to replenish the base is restricted. Maybe this could be called a budget base, it is mostly symbolic, there needs to be a serious upgrade and ongoing investment.

The air base is mostly used for exercises, everything is brought in for the short period of the exercise and then packed up again. This should be a dual use base that is combined with army resources for a full time presence in the area. Even if the older generation F-18 Super Hornets are based at RAAF Base Curtin, that is at least something. Really, a fifth generation F-35 squadron should be based at this location, the north west approaches can’t be properly defended otherwise.