The RAAF’s Major Exercise Pitch Black 2022 Set to Return to 'The Top End'

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Exercise Pitch Black is returning to the Northern Territory in 2022.

The exercise is a biennial three week multi-national large force employment exercise conducted primarily from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal. RAAF Base Amberley, located near Ipswich will also be included in the exercise this year.

Exercise Pitch Black will run from Friday 19 August to Thursday 8 September 2022.

Exercise Pitch Black 2022 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s most significant International Engagement activity with forces participating from a wide range of partner and allied nations developing and enhancing military relationships at all levels.

Exercises such as this are pivotal to ensuring Air Force remains ready to respond whenever the Australian Government requires. The training and integration of forces that occurs during this exercise directly supports Air Force’s ability to conduct operations.

Exercise Pitch Black features a range of realistic, simulated threats which can be found in a modern battle-space environment and is an opportunity to test and improve our force integration, utilising one of the largest training airspace areas in the world - Bradshaw Field Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range.

The exercise will host up to 2500 personnel and up to 100 aircraft from around the globe including participants from Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, UK, the Philippines, Thailand, UAE, Canada, Netherlands, Malaysia, New Zealand and the US. Significantly, Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will be participating fully for the first time.

Also based in RAAF Base Darwin from April to October, the United States Marines, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, will also participate in the exercise utilizing the MV-22 Ospreys.

Activities such as Exercise Pitch Black recognise Australia’s strong relationships and the high value we place on regional security and fostering closer ties throughout the Indo- Pacific region.

To thank the Darwin community for their co-operation during the Exercise, the RAAF will continue the tradition of providing a flypast and handling display at Mindil Beach, and an Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin where the Northern Territory community will have the chance to observe, first-hand, some of the participating Air Forces’ capabilities.

The Pitch Black 2022 flypast and handling display will be held on Thursday 25 August 2022 from approximately 5.00pm - 6.30pm (TBC) at the stunning Mindil Beach in Darwin, while the Pitch Black 2022 Open Day will be hold on Saturday 27 August 2022 from 9.00am - 4.00pm at RAAF Base Darwin.

Free buses will run from Darwin Showground to RAAF Base Darwin.

Head to the Exercise Pitch Black 2022 website for more information - https://www.airforce.gov.au/exercises/pitch-black-2022

Defence Images...

The RAAF's Major Exercise Pitch Black 2018 Wraps-up in the Northern Territory

The Royal Australian Air Force's Exercise Pitch Black 2018 has successfully concluded in the Northern Territory following three weeks of intensive air operations conducted by 16 nations.

The exercise saw over 1120 missions conducted from Friday 27 July to Friday 17 August 2018, with more than 4000 Australian and international participants and up to 140 aircraft involved at both RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal.

The exercise aims to strengthen regional partnerships, improve interoperability between nations and promote regional stability, according to Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, Officer Conducting the Exercise.

Officer Conducting Exercise, Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, AM, DSM, engages with Darwin media at RAAF Base Darwin for the official start of Exercise Pitch Black 2018

“The strength of this year’s exercise is not just in its size, but in its variety – there’s not been a Pitch Black with the diversity we’ve witnessed in 2018,” Air Commodore Kitcher said.

“When this exercise began in 1981, it was a few hundred Australians and Americans conducting air defence training in the Northern Territory.”

“The diversity of Exercise Pitch Black 2018 – whether it’s the range of nations involved, the different roles practiced, and even the participants themselves – all contribute to Air Force being better prepared for future operations.”

Indian Air Force SU-30 Flanker aircraft conduct air to air refuelling from a Royal Australian Air Force No. 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

Major exercise highlights included the debut of the RAAF’s E/A-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, and C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter; and the creation of a Forward Operating Base at Batchelor Airfield, allowing Defence to rehearse delivery of forces for a peacekeeping or humanitarian response.

An EA-18G Growler from Royal Australian Air Force No. 6 Squadron prepares for another mission during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

A Royal Australian Air Force No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan aircraft arrives at RAAF Tindal during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan aircraft lands at Batchelor Airfield in the Northern Territory during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

International highlights include the Indian Air Force participating for the first time with the Lockheed C-130J Hercules and Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker aircraft as well as the Armee de l’Air (French Air Force) flying with the Dassault Rafale.

An SU-30MKI Flanker aircraft from the Indian Air Force takes off from RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

A French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) Dassault Rafale taxis after landing at RAAF Base Darwin in the lead up to Exercise Pitch Black 2018

This is the second time the Indonesian Air Force has participated with the F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft.

An F-16 aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force taxis out of RAAF Base Darwin for another mission during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

In one of the largest military training airspaces in the world, participant Air Forces at Exercise Pitch Black 2018 flew coordinated missions with up to 80 aircraft at a time.

For the Northern Territory public, highlights of this year’s Exercise Pitch Black included the Mindil Beach Flypasts and Flying Display, and an Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin which attracted up to 20,000 people.

An MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the United States Marine Corps participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 displays capability over Mindil Beach, Darwin

A pair of C-130J Hercules from the Royal Australian Air Force participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 display their capability over Mindil Beach, Darwin

No. 1 Squadron personnel on hand to answer questions from the public at the Exercise Pitch Black 2018 open day

Pilots from the Royal Thai Air Force talk with the public about the JAS-39 Grippen aircraft during the Exercise Pitch Black 2018 open day

“The support we get from the Northern Territory community is incredibly important to Exercise Pitch Black and Air Force, and we’re grateful for the positive response we receive,” Air Commodore Kitcher said.

“Many of the international participants would have been visiting Australia for the first time at this exercise, we’re proud they’ve experienced our country through the Northern Territory.”

Find out more at the Exercise Pitch Black 2018 webpage:  https://www.airforce.gov.au/exercises/pitch-black

The exercise will return to the Northern Territory in mid-2020.

Report and Images Courtesy of Defence Media

The RAAF’s Major Exercise Pitch Black 2018 Set to Kick off in ‘The Top End’

The skies above Australia's 'Top End' will come alive from Monday as the Royal Australian Air Force's Exercise Pitch Black kicks off.

Exercise Pitch Black is the biennial three week multi-national large force employment exercise conducted from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal.  Exercise Pitch Black 2018 will be held from Friday 27 July to Friday 17 August 2018.

Exercises such as Pitch Black are pivotal to ensuring the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) remains ready to respond whenever the Australian Government requires. The training and integration of forces that occurs during this exercise directly supports the RAAF’s ability to conduct operations.

Exercise Pitch Black features a range of realistic, simulated threats which can be found in a modern battle-space environment and is an opportunity to test and improve their force integration, utilising one of the largest training airspace areas in the world - Bradshaw Field Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range - in the Northern Territory.

The exercise will host up to 4000 personnel and up to 140 aircraft from around the globe with aircraft and personnel from Australia, Canada, France (New Caledonia), Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, The Philippines, Singapore, Sweden and the United States of America arriving into Darwin and Tindal over the course of this week.

Flying activities will take place during the day along with some night flying during the latter part of the Exercise.

Activities such as Exercise Pitch Black recognises the strong relationship Australia has with its participant nations and the high value it places on regional security and fostering closer ties throughout the Asia Pacific region.

To thank the Darwin community for their co-operation during the Exercise, the RAAF hosts a pair of free community events which will be held at the beginning of August.  The Ex Pitch Black 2018 Flypast and Handling Display - which has been rumoured to be bigger and better than ever - will be held at sunset on Thursday 2 August at the stunning Mindil Beach in Darwin, while the Ex Pitch Black 2018 Open Day will be held on Saturday 4 August from 9am to 4pm at RAAF Base Darwin.

Find out more at the Exercise Pitch Black 2018 webpage:  https://www.airforce.gov.au/exercises/pitch-black

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Sid M for allowing us to share his great photos!

All photos taken by Sid Mitchell  ©