New Delhi, 19 July (H.S.): The biennial multinational air combat exercise ‘Pitch Black’ will commence on Monday at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin and will continue until August 7. The exercise derives its name from the vast, sparsely populated regions of northern Australia where special night flying operations are conducted.

More than 19 allied nations, including India, the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and host nation Australia, will participate in the exercise. The Indian contingent will operate the multirole Rafale fighter aircraft, supported by C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift aircraft and IL-78 air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

The Indian Air Force contingent will comprise highly skilled air warriors, including pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and other specialists. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability among participating forces, strengthen force integration and facilitate the exchange of operational best practices for collaborative missions in global scenarios.

‘Pitch Black’ will provide an excellent opportunity to test long-range expeditionary air operations, improve multinational interoperability and strengthen professional partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

The exercise is designed to enhance strategic cooperation, coordination and combat training among the air forces of participating nations through complex aerial warfare scenarios. The exercise is named ‘Pitch Black’, referring to complete darkness, as its primary focus is on conducting night-time flying operations and practising offensive and defensive missions in low-visibility conditions.

The exercise will enable participating air forces to operate in a realistic and challenging multinational environment, promoting better operational coordination, mutual understanding and preparedness.

The Indian Air Force has previously participated in the ‘Pitch Black’ exercise in 2018, 2022 and 2024, demonstrating its commitment to strengthening defence cooperation and regional security.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar