Bill Shorten has taken the opportunity to tour an air force base while campaigning in Darwin, trying out the driver's seat of a US assault helicopter.

Mr Shorten toured the Mobile Reporting Unit in RAAF Base Darwin on Friday which houses the defence force's communications and radio of Australia's top end.

He, along with local MP Warren Snowdon, local candidate Luke Gosling and opposition Defence parliamentary spokeswoman Gai Brodtmann, was briefed on an upcoming military exercise, Pitch Black.

It will involve 10 countries including the US, France, Germany, Indonesia and the Netherlands between July and mid-August.

"It's pretty impressive," he told RAAF personnel as he was shown the mobile installation, literally containers housing manned radio equipment - air conditioned to keep the equipment chilled rather than the staff.

"Elections come and go but our defence force is always there," he told them.

Mr Snowden urged camera-shy staff to pose for a picture with the opposition leader.

"Look as if you own the place," he quipped.

Mr Shorten was taken to the US Marine part of the base, where he jumped into the pilot seat of a Huey helicopter - or a UH-1N Iroquois in military terms - and posed for the cameras.

On the way into the base, Mr Shorten signed the guest book, recently signed by opposition Defence spokesman Stephen Conroy, Mr Snowden and chief of defence Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin.

Australia goes to the polls on July 2.