SYDNEY - The government of the Northern Territory in Australia wants a fleet of military drones for surveillance and defense purposes.

In a written submission to a national government inquiry into unmanned drones, it said they could have many roles.

"Basing such systems in the Northern Territory, particularly at RAAF Base Tindal, where population centers are small and there are vast remote areas between those centers, is likely to attract far less adverse public concern than in the major population centers such as Adelaide and Brisbane," the submission said.

It argues that drones will play a key role in border protection, and in maintaining a military presence around strategically important offshore oil and gas projects.