The Indian Air Force (IAF) will begin its participation in the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) premier multinational air combat exercise, Exercise Pitch Black 2026, at RAAF Base Darwin from Sunday.
The biennial exercise, scheduled from July 20 to August 7, brings together air forces from across the world for complex multinational air combat operations and large force employment missions.
Named after its focus on night flying over the sparsely populated regions of northern Australia, this year’s edition marks one of the largest in the exercise’s 45-year history in terms of participating forces.
The IAF contingent comprises pilots, engineers, technicians, 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 in combat support roles.
According to the IAF, the exercise will provide an opportunity to enhance interoperability with partner air forces, strengthen force integration and exchange operational best practices for conducting multinational air operations in complex scenarios.
The exercise will also help validate expeditionary air operations over extended distances while deepening professional partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region through realistic and challenging operational missions. The IAF has previously participated in the 2018, 2022 and 2024 editions of Exercise Pitch Black, underscoring India’s continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation and promoting regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
