Indian Air Force Begins Participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will begin participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 on 20 July at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin, Australia. The multinational air combat exercise will run until 7 August 2026.

Hosted every two years by the Royal Australian Air Force, Exercise Pitch Black is its flagship multinational air warfare exercise. Named for its emphasis on night flying over the vast, sparsely populated regions of northern Australia, the exercise has evolved over its 45-year history into one of the world’s largest and most complex air combat training events. This year’s edition brings together a significant number of participating nations and military personnel for advanced Large Force Employment (LFE) missions and multinational air operations.

The IAF contingent includes experienced pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and other specialists. India will deploy its Rafale multirole fighter aircraft, supported by C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft and IL-78 aerial refuelling aircraft, which will play key combat support roles throughout the exercise.

Exercise Pitch Black 2026 offers participating air forces an opportunity to strengthen interoperability, enhance force integration and exchange operational expertise in a realistic multinational environment. It also serves as a platform to validate expeditionary air operations over long distances while reinforcing professional partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indian Air Force has previously participated in the 2018, 2022 and 2024 editions of Exercise Pitch Black, underscoring its continued commitment to advancing defence cooperation, improving operational readiness and contributing to regional peace and security.

Source: PIB