The Indian Air Force (IAF) ,for the first time, is participating in the biennial ‘Pitch Black’ air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exercise is slated to take place from July 27 to August 17. The IAF contingent has arrived in Darwin today.
Pitch Black is a biennial three week multi-national large defence exercise conducted from RAAF bases in Darwin and Tindal in Australia’s Northern Territory.
around 4,000 military personnel and up to 140 aircraft from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia and the United States are participating in the exercise.
According to the Diplomat the IAF will participate with four Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters, an Ilyushin Il-78 tanker, a Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 stretched Super Hercules, and a Boeing C-17 transport aircraft. The IAF contingent will also include 45 Garud special forces personnel. The Indian contingent would “aim to undertake simulated air combat exercises in a controlled environment and mutual exchange of best practices towards enhancing IAF operational capability.”