diff --git a/docker/elasticsearch/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/elasticsearch/Dockerfile.j2
index b677f64c6c..f7deb92e91 100644
--- a/docker/elasticsearch/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/elasticsearch/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -21,15 +21,7 @@ ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.8.0-openjdk/
         'elasticsearch',
     ] %}
 
-{% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-ENV java_arch=amd64
-{% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-ENV java_arch=arm64
-{% else %}
-ENV java_arch={{ base_arch }}
-{% endif %}
-
-ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-${java_arch}/
+ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-{{debian_arch}}/
 
 {% endif %}
 
diff --git a/docker/helm-repository/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/helm-repository/Dockerfile.j2
index 4faa76c31f..dc20229b81 100644
--- a/docker/helm-repository/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/helm-repository/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -46,20 +46,12 @@ RUN curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py \
 
 RUN {{ macros.install_pip(helm_repository_pip_packages | customizable("pip_packages"), constraints = false) }}
 
-{% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-ENV helm_arch=amd64
-{% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-ENV helm_arch=arm64
-{% else %}
-ENV helm_arch={{ base_arch }}
-{% endif %}
-
 {% block helm_repository_install_kubernetes_helm %}
 # TODO(mandre) check for file integrity instead of downloading from an HTTPS source
-RUN curl -Lo /tmp/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-${helm_arch}.tar.gz  https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-helm/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-${helm_arch}.tar.gz \
-    && sudo tar --strip-components 1 -C /usr/bin linux-${helm_arch}/helm -zxvf /tmp/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-${helm_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -Lo /tmp/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz  https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-helm/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
+    && sudo tar --strip-components 1 -C /usr/bin linux-{{debian_arch}}/helm -zxvf /tmp/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/helm \
-    && rm /tmp/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-${helm_arch}.tar.gz
+    && rm /tmp/helm-v${helm_version}-linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz
 {% endblock %}
 
 RUN useradd --user-group --create-home --home-dir /home/helm helm \
diff --git a/docker/kube/kube-base/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/kube/kube-base/Dockerfile.j2
index d0dc32fa3e..02449df2e2 100644
--- a/docker/kube/kube-base/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/kube/kube-base/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -3,16 +3,7 @@ LABEL maintainer="{{ maintainer }}" name="{{ image_name }}" build-date="{{ build
 
 ENV KUBERNETES_VERSION=v1.11.1
 
-{% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-ENV KUBE_ARCH=amd64
-{% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-ENV KUBE_ARCH=arm64
-{% else %}
-RUN echo 'Kubernetes images not yet available for {{ base_arch }}' \
-&& /bin/false
-{% endif %}
-
-ENV KUBERNETES_DOWNLOAD_ROOT=https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/${KUBERNETES_VERSION}/bin/linux/${KUBE_ARCH}
+ENV KUBERNETES_DOWNLOAD_ROOT=https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/${KUBERNETES_VERSION}/bin/linux/{{debian_arch}}
 
 {% block kube_base_header %}{% endblock %}
 
diff --git a/docker/logstash/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/logstash/Dockerfile.j2
index 61094da7ce..36d62676ee 100644
--- a/docker/logstash/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/logstash/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -20,15 +20,7 @@ ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.8.0-openjdk/
         'logrotate'
     ] %}
 
-{% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-ARG java_arch=amd64
-{% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-ARG java_arch=arm64
-{% else %}
-ARG java_arch={{ base_arch }}
-{% endif %}
-
-ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-${java_arch}/
+ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-{{debian_arch}}/
 
 {% endif %}
 
diff --git a/docker/macros.j2 b/docker/macros.j2
index 1115721403..171d9564c2 100644
--- a/docker/macros.j2
+++ b/docker/macros.j2
@@ -75,21 +75,11 @@ RUN apt-get update \
 {% endmacro %}
 
 {% macro install_kubectl() %}
-    {% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-        ENV KUBE_ARCH=amd64
-    {% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-        ENV KUBE_ARCH=arm64
-    {% else %}
-        RUN echo 'There is no "kubectl" binary for {{ base_arch }}' \
-            && /bin/false
-    {% endif %}
-
     # TODO(mandre) check for file integrity instead of downloading from an HTTPS source
-    RUN curl -o /usr/bin/kubectl https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/v1.5.4/bin/linux/${KUBE_ARCH}/kubectl \
+    RUN curl -o /usr/bin/kubectl https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/v1.5.4/bin/linux/{{debian_arch}}/kubectl \
         && chmod 755 /usr/bin/kubectl
 {% endmacro %}
 
-
 {% macro install_fluent_plugins(plugins) -%}
 {% if plugins is defined and plugins|length > 0 -%}
     {% if base_distro in ['centos', 'oraclelinux', 'rhel'] -%}
diff --git a/docker/monasca/monasca-thresh/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/monasca/monasca-thresh/Dockerfile.j2
index 10170fb467..6897996002 100644
--- a/docker/monasca/monasca-thresh/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/monasca/monasca-thresh/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -29,15 +29,7 @@ ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.8.0-openjdk/
         'maven',
     ] %}
 
-{% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-ARG java_arch=amd64
-{% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-ARG java_arch=arm64
-{% else %}
-ARG java_arch={{ base_arch }}
-{% endif %}
-
-ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-${java_arch}/
+ENV JAVA_HOME /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-{{debian_arch}}/
 
 {% endif %}
 
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-alertmanager/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-alertmanager/Dockerfile.j2
index 341e0fe063..626b77837d 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-alertmanager/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-alertmanager/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV prometheus_alertmanager_version=0.14.0
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block prometheus_alertmanager_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/prometheus_alertmanager.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/releases/download/v${prometheus_alertmanager_version}/alertmanager-${prometheus_alertmanager_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/prometheus_alertmanager.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/releases/download/v${prometheus_alertmanager_version}/alertmanager-${prometheus_alertmanager_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/prometheus_alertmanager.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/prometheus_alertmanager.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/alertmanager* /opt/prometheus_alertmanager
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-base/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-base/Dockerfile.j2
index 93da382392..8bb86e2273 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-base/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-base/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -7,14 +7,6 @@ LABEL maintainer="{{ maintainer }}" name="{{ image_name }}" build-date="{{ build
 
 {{ macros.configure_user(name='prometheus') }}
 
-{% if base_arch == 'x86_64' %}
-ENV prometheus_arch=amd64
-{% elif base_arch == 'aarch64' %}
-ENV prometheus_arch=arm64
-{% else %}
-ENV prometheus_arch={{ base_arch }}
-{% endif %}
-
 COPY extend_start.sh /usr/local/bin/kolla_extend_start
 RUN chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/kolla_extend_start
 
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-blackbox-exporter/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-blackbox-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
index 66bc7666f8..8ca5867596 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-blackbox-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-blackbox-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV blackbox_exporter_version=0.12.0
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block prometheus_blackbox_exporter_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/blackbox_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/blackbox_exporter/releases/download/v${blackbox_exporter_version}/blackbox_exporter-${blackbox_exporter_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/blackbox_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/blackbox_exporter/releases/download/v${blackbox_exporter_version}/blackbox_exporter-${blackbox_exporter_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/blackbox_exporter.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/blackbox_exporter.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/blackbox_exporter* /opt/blackbox_exporter
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-haproxy-exporter/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-haproxy-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
index 621faa0957..5dbdd8fc94 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-haproxy-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-haproxy-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV haproxy_exporter_version=0.7.1
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block haproxy_exporter_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/haproxy_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/haproxy_exporter/releases/download/v${haproxy_exporter_version}/haproxy_exporter-${haproxy_exporter_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/haproxy_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/haproxy_exporter/releases/download/v${haproxy_exporter_version}/haproxy_exporter-${haproxy_exporter_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/haproxy_exporter.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/haproxy_exporter.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/haproxy_exporter* /opt/haproxy_exporter
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-memcached-exporter/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-memcached-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
index 65fe5d0b07..d3cc78d845 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-memcached-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-memcached-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV memcached_exporter_version=0.4.1
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block prometheus_memcached_exporter_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/memcached_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/memcached_exporter/releases/download/v${memcached_exporter_version}/memcached_exporter-${memcached_exporter_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/memcached_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/memcached_exporter/releases/download/v${memcached_exporter_version}/memcached_exporter-${memcached_exporter_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/memcached_exporter.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/memcached_exporter.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/memcached_exporter* /opt/memcached_exporter
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-mysqld-exporter/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-mysqld-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
index e9f6773a25..d9bc7e7752 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-mysqld-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-mysqld-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV mysqld_exporter_version=0.10.0
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block mysqld_exporter_install %}
-RUN curl -ssL -o /tmp/mysqld_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/mysqld_exporter/releases/download/v${mysqld_exporter_version}/mysqld_exporter-${mysqld_exporter_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -ssL -o /tmp/mysqld_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/mysqld_exporter/releases/download/v${mysqld_exporter_version}/mysqld_exporter-${mysqld_exporter_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/mysqld_exporter.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/mysqld_exporter.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/mysqld_exporter* /opt/mysqld_exporter
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-node-exporter/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-node-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
index 1738285ba5..59f6b3223e 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-node-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-node-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV node_exporter_version=0.14.0
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block node_exporter_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/node_exporter/releases/download/v${node_exporter_version}/node_exporter-${node_exporter_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/node_exporter/releases/download/v${node_exporter_version}/node_exporter-${node_exporter_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/node_exporter* /opt/node_exporter
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-openstack-exporter/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-openstack-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
index 6b7ec1b694..f300fd807d 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-openstack-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-openstack-exporter/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV prometheus_openstack_exporter_version=0.0.5
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block prometheus_openstack_exporter_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/prometheus_openstack_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/Linaro/openstack-exporter/releases/download/v${prometheus_openstack_exporter_version}/openstack-exporter-${prometheus_openstack_exporter_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/prometheus_openstack_exporter.tar.gz https://github.com/Linaro/openstack-exporter/releases/download/v${prometheus_openstack_exporter_version}/openstack-exporter-${prometheus_openstack_exporter_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/prometheus_openstack_exporter.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/prometheus_openstack_exporter.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/openstack-exporter* /opt/openstack-exporter
diff --git a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-server/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-server/Dockerfile.j2
index 686ac3b250..cf9d2bfefc 100644
--- a/docker/prometheus/prometheus-server/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker/prometheus/prometheus-server/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ENV prometheus_version=1.7.1
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block prometheus_server_install %}
-RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/prometheus.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/prometheus/releases/download/v${prometheus_version}/prometheus-${prometheus_version}.linux-${prometheus_arch}.tar.gz \
+RUN curl -sSL -o /tmp/prometheus.tar.gz https://github.com/prometheus/prometheus/releases/download/v${prometheus_version}/prometheus-${prometheus_version}.linux-{{debian_arch}}.tar.gz \
     && tar xvf /tmp/prometheus.tar.gz -C /opt/ \
     && rm -f /tmp/prometheus.tar.gz \
     && ln -s /opt/prometheus* /opt/prometheus \
diff --git a/kolla/image/build.py b/kolla/image/build.py
index eb5512dc06..b3ed5e5c27 100755
--- a/kolla/image/build.py
+++ b/kolla/image/build.py
@@ -679,6 +679,11 @@ class KollaWorker(object):
         self.install_type = conf.install_type
         self.tag = conf.tag
         self.base_arch = conf.base_arch
+        self.debian_arch = self.base_arch
+        if self.base_arch == 'aarch64':
+            self.debian_arch = 'arm64'
+        elif self.base_arch == 'x86_64':
+            self.debian_arch = 'amd64'
         self.images = list()
         rpm_setup_config = ([repo_file for repo_file in
                              conf.rpm_setup_config if repo_file is not None])
@@ -900,6 +905,7 @@ class KollaWorker(object):
                       'base_distro_tag': self.base_tag,
                       'base_arch': self.base_arch,
                       'base_package_type': self.base_package_type,
+                      'debian_arch': self.debian_arch,
                       'supported_distro_release': supported_distro_release,
                       'install_metatype': self.install_metatype,
                       'image_prefix': self.image_prefix,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-debian_arch-variable-9559ac31809afaca.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-debian_arch-variable-9559ac31809afaca.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f8a26f161
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-debian_arch-variable-9559ac31809afaca.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Add `debian_arch` variable which can be used in Dockerfile.j2 files instead
+    of checking architecture names. For 'x86-64' it goes for 'amd64' and uses
+    'arm64' on 'aarch64' architecture. This is handy for fetching external
+    release files.