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News: The Indian Air Force started participating in Ex Pitch Black 2026 at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin from 20 July 2026.
About Ex Pitch Black 2026
- Ex Pitch Black 2026 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s flagship biennial multinational air combat exercise with a 45-year history.
- Origin of Name: The name “Pitch Black” comes from the exercise’s focus on night flying over the large unpopulated areas of northern Australia.
- Host Country: Australia hosts Ex Pitch Black 2026 through the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
- Objective: The exercise aims to enhance operational interoperability, strengthen military cooperation, improve force integration, and exchange operational best practices in realistic multinational air combat scenarios.
- First Edition: June 1981
- 2026 Location: The exercise is conducted at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory, and RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, Australia.
- Participating Countries: More than 19 nations, including India, Australia, the USA, the UK, Japan, France, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, and other Indo-Pacific partners, are participating in the exercise.
- Key Features of Ex Pitch Black 2026:
- Scale of Exercise: The 2026 edition brings together more than 19 nations, 100+ aircraft, and 4,400+ personnel.
- Operational Training: The exercise focuses on complex aerial manoeuvres, offensive counter-air operations, air defence tracking, tactical coordination, mission planning, and integrated high-intensity operational training.
- IAF Participation: The Indian Air Force ( IAF) has deployed Rafale fighter aircraft, supported by C-17 Globemaster III and IL-78 Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft, along with pilots, engineers, technicians, controllers, and other experts.
- India’s Previous Participation: The IAF has participated in the 2018, 2022, and 2024 editions, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening defence cooperation and regional security.
