The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), as announced by Canberra. The exercise will take place in Australia’s Northern Territory from 20 July to 7 August, featuring over 100 aircraft and thousands of personnel from 20 nations.
Exercise Details
The three-week drill involves complex, combat-like scenarios with a strong emphasis on night-time flying over vast, unpopulated terrain. It is conducted across one of the world’s largest training areas, providing a unique environment for multinational air combat training.
Participating Nations
Apart from India and host Australia, participating nations include Brunei, Canada, Fiji, Finland, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The exercise also offers the Northern Territory community a chance to view aircraft displays and interact with personnel from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Training Environment and History
Pitch Black provides a training environment tailored to international participants’ needs, directly supporting their operational requirements in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise builds on Australia’s long tradition of hosting multinational air drills in the Northern Territory, dating back to the High-series in the 1960s and Top-series in the 1970s. First held in 1981 at RAAF Base Williamtown, Pitch Black has evolved into a premier multinational exercise, with its name reflecting the emphasis on night-time flying that continues to define its character.
Expert Insights
Air Marshal Radhakrishnan Radhish (retired), former AOC-in-C Training Command, stated, "There are many advantages of taking part in exercises with other nations; they improve cooperation, help exchange best practices, and give exposure to our air and ground crew."
Air Commodore Matt McCormack of the RAAF, the Exercise Commander, highlighted that Pitch Black strengthens relationships through air combat integration in demanding scenarios. The exercise focuses on large force employment missions, testing the ability of multiple air forces to operate together effectively. It ensures the RAAF remains responsive to government requirements while contributing to the sovereign security of partner nations, enhancing collective readiness for contingency operations.
India’s Previous Participation
The IAF participated in the 2024, 2022, and 2018 editions of the aerial wargames. In the 2024 edition, the IAF contingent operated from RAAF Base Darwin, deploying Su-30 MKI multirole fighters, a C-17 Globemaster, and an IL-78 air-to-air refuelling aircraft, all of which performed combat-enabling roles. These assets allowed the IAF to demonstrate its operational reach and capability to integrate with other advanced air forces in complex scenarios. That edition featured 4,400 service personnel from 20 nations.
