The Australian Top End painted Black!

Exercise Pitch Black 2026 officially launched in Darwin, Australia as the three week exercise begins flying operations on Monday 20th of July.

 

Article: Jaryd Stock
Images: Jaryd Stock & Ryan Imeson.

 

 

The Royal Australian Air Force’s premier air combat exercise, Exercise Pitch Black, will take to the skies over northern Australia from 20 July to 7 August.

Up to 100 jet aircraft will soar into action supported by more than 2,500 personnel from 20 nations across RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal and Amberley.

This major exercise has been held in Darwin since 1983 and will feature for the first time Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-35 Lightning II and Indonesia T-50I Golden Eagle jets, as well as embedded personnel from Finland and Sweden.

Pitch Black 2026 will include aircraft from the United States, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Republic of Korea, India, Singapore, Germany, France and Spain as well as embedded personnel from New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Brunei, Malaysia, Finland and Sweden.

 

 

 

Air Commodore (AIRCDRE) Matthew McCormack, Exercise Commander of Pitch Black 2026 emphasised the importance of the high-end training activity.

“Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is Air Force’s largest, collective training activity with our partners and allies,” AIRCDRE McCormack said.

“It’s where we plan together, fight together and learn together through realistic and complex training scenarios.

“This year’s exercise will build upon the lessons forged from 2024 and remains a sought after activity by our partners due to the enormous military training airspace.

“The exercise is a crucial means for Air Force to meet the objectives of the National Defence Strategy. It strengthens relationships among our partners and allies through integration, and demonstrates our shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous region.”

Exercise Pitch Black 2026 marks the end of a high-tempo flying period across northern Australia, including Exercises Diamond Storm and Southern Cross.

“The support of the Northern Territory is critical to the success of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, giving our personnel and participating nations the chance to experience Australia both from the air and on the ground,” AIRCDRE McCormack said.

Air Force will thank to the Darwin community through the Mindil Beach Flying Display on 23 July and the RAAF Base Darwin Open Day on 1 August.

 

 

Although due to recent events around the world this years Pitch Black is notably smaller than the previous iteration of the exercise back in 2024.

A number of countries especially from the Asia Pacific region are sending observers or ground crews/ staff to embed along with local Australian Defence Force personnel, for instance Malaysia are sending ground crews.

The Royal Singapore Air Force which has been a long standing partner in Pitch Black since its inaugural appearance back in 1990 is sending its smallest detachment to Darwin to participate in this years exercise in decades.

In 2024 it could be argued that the exercise was too big with around 150 aircraft and a record number of nations and personnel participating in the exercise, many observers noted that the exercise in 2024 even though was beneficial for training was seen as quantity over quality for all nations to benefit.

 

 

 

2026 iteration of the exercise does see several firsts although a meagre ones.

The first sees the Japan Air Self Defence Force deploy the E-2D Hawkeye and the F-35A Lightning to Darwin, the Squadrons have been ramping up their participation in Pitch Black by deploying to Australia earlier in July to participate along side their RAAF and USAF counterparts in Exercise Southern Cross.

 

 

The second first sees the Indian Air Force deploy to RAAF Base Darwin with the Rafale from 101 Squadron Nicknamed the “Falcons” deploying from Hasimara Air Force Station, this is a change from previous exercises where the IAF has sent Russian/ Indian made Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft in 2018, 2022 and 2024.

The difference with Pitch Black apart from other air defence exercises that employ large force employment tactics is the wide and vast airspace The Australian outback provides, considering that aircraft are deployed to three different Air Force bases across two states gives an indication to how large this exercise is, something that nations especially from Europe and the Indo-Pacific rarely enjoy.

Stay tuned for more from APD on the exercise as we bring you coverage from on-base in the Top End of Pitch Black 2026.

Full list of nations and participating aircraft below.

 

RAAF Base Darwin

RAAF Base Tindal

RAAF Base Amberley