CANBERRA, Australia, July 16 (ANI): The Royal Australian Air Force’s premier air combat exercise, Exercise Pitch Black 2026, will take to the skies over northern Australia from July 20 to Aug. 7.
According to Australia’s Department of Defence, up to 100 jet aircraft will participate in the exercise, supported by more than 2,500 personnel from 20 nations operating from RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley.
Held in Darwin since 1983, this year’s exercise will feature the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s F-35 Lightning II and the Indonesian Air Force’s T-50I Golden Eagle jets for the first time, along with embedded personnel from Finland and Sweden.
Exercise Pitch Black 2026 will include aircraft from the United States, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, India, Singapore, Germany, France, and Spain. Embedded personnel from New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Brunei, Malaysia, Finland, and Sweden will also take part, according to the release.
Air Commodore Matthew McCormack, exercise commander for Pitch Black 2026, emphasized the importance of the multinational training exercise.
“Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is the Air Force’s largest collective training activity with our partners and allies,” McCormack said.
“It’s where we plan together, fight together and learn together through realistic and complex training scenarios. This year’s exercise will build upon the lessons forged from 2024 and remains a sought-after activity by our partners due to the enormous military training airspace,” he added.
“The exercise is a crucial means for the Air Force to meet the objectives of the National Defence Strategy. It strengthens relationships among our partners and allies through integration and demonstrates our shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous region.”
Exercise Pitch Black 2026 marks the end of a high-tempo flying period across northern Australia, following Exercises Diamond Storm and Southern Cross.
“The support of the Northern Territory is critical to the success of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, giving our personnel and participating nations the chance to experience Australia both from the air and on the ground,” McCormack said.
The Royal Australian Air Force will thank the Darwin community by hosting the Mindil Beach Flying Display on July 23 and the RAAF Base Darwin Open Day on Aug. 1, the release said.
According to the Royal Australian Air Force, Exercise Pitch Black was first held at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales in June 1981 as a three-day air defense exercise, with “attacking” aircraft operating from RAAF Bases Amberley and Richmond. The exercise was held there again in July 1982.
Since then, with the exception of 1986 and 2002, Exercise Pitch Black has been conducted in the Northern Territory. It has been held every two years since 1988, except in 2020, when it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)
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