With approximately 140 aircraft and more than 4,000 personnel from 20 countries participating, this year's iteration of Exercise Pitch Black is the largest participation in its 43-year history, the RAAF announced on Thursday.
The exercise, which takes place every two years, focuses on large force employment missions involving large numbers of international aircraft.
The latest edition of the exercise, held in 2022, saw the participation of an Indian Air Force contingent that included four Su-30 MKI aircraft and two C-17 aircraft.
For the first time, aircraft and personnel from the Philippines, Spain, Italy and Papua New Guinea and embedded personnel from Fiji and Brunei will participate in the exercise.
In addition, planes from France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States; and incorporated personnel from Canada and New Zealand will also participate.
The aircraft will operate from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory, with additional tanker and transport aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland.
"Exercise Pitch Black is our flagship activity for international engagement, held every two years to build stronger ties with like-minded nations. Training with our partner countries throughout Exercise Pitch Black demonstrates our commitment to the shared value of sustaining peace and stability across the region," said exercise director Air Commodore Peter Robinson.
According to the RAAF, the exercise exposes participants to complex scenarios while using some of the most advanced aircraft and battle space systems, in one of the largest military training airspace areas in the world.
"For international participants, there is a significant benefit to participating in Exercise Pitch Black 24. It provides experience on how to deploy over long distances, with some countries traveling from all over the world to reach Australia," the Australian Ministry of Defense said.
The exercise, which takes place every two years, focuses on large force employment missions involving large numbers of international aircraft.
The latest edition of the exercise, held in 2022, saw the participation of an Indian Air Force contingent that included four Su-30 MKI aircraft and two C-17 aircraft.
For the first time, aircraft and personnel from the Philippines, Spain, Italy and Papua New Guinea and embedded personnel from Fiji and Brunei will participate in the exercise.
In addition, planes from France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States; and incorporated personnel from Canada and New Zealand will also participate.
The aircraft will operate from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory, with additional tanker and transport aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland.
"Exercise Pitch Black is our flagship activity for international engagement, held every two years to build stronger ties with like-minded nations. Training with our partner countries throughout Exercise Pitch Black demonstrates our commitment to the shared value of sustaining peace and stability across the region," said exercise director Air Commodore Peter Robinson.
According to the RAAF, the exercise exposes participants to complex scenarios while using some of the most advanced aircraft and battle space systems, in one of the largest military training airspace areas in the world.
"For international participants, there is a significant benefit to participating in Exercise Pitch Black 24. It provides experience on how to deploy over long distances, with some countries traveling from all over the world to reach Australia," the Australian Ministry of Defense said.
