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CHECKMATE:
3SQN’s CPL Peter Greentree conducts a pre-flight
inspection on an F/A-18’s afterburner.
Photo by LAC Dave Gibbs.
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SHAKE
ON IT: Parlimentary Secretary, Senator Sandy McDonald
with the Director of Exercise Control GPCAPT Bob Ambler.
Photo by LAC Dave Gibbs.
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CPL
Julia Rowley attends to her simulated crash victim.
Photo by LAC Dave Gibbs.
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THE
OUTCOME of Exercise Pitch Black’s epic air battle between
Red and Blue forces fought from July 28 to August 18 in Northern
Territory skies was always a foregone conclusion.
Blue Forces, comprising Australian F-111s and F/A-18s, and F-16s
from Singapore and Thailand, blitzed their Red Force opposition.
Red Forces comprised Tindal-based 75SQN F/A-18s supported by
Singaporean F-5s.
“Of course the strikes were all simulated and no ordnance
was dropped,” said Air Combat Group Commander AIRCDRE Geoff
Brown. “Blue Forces had overwhelming superiority of numbers.”
Win or lose, everyone who participated in the exercise agreed
they gained valuable experience working in a realistic scenario.
“We had people flying who were from Singapore, the UK and
Thailand, so we spent a week in the work-up phase,” AIRCDRE
Brown said.
“It’s complicated to get six different nations working
together but by the end of that first week, we all ended up
with very similar operating procedures.”
“The language barrier is our soft spot, particularly in
air-to-air communications,” said Royal Thai Air Force’s
WGCDR Rompayom Somporn.
“In some countries, they don’t make any effort to
understand us. But my experience in Australia has been totally
different. It’s so easy to talk to the Australians.
“It’s great training. Hands-on experience of tactical
warfare is giving our pilots more confidence and adding depth
of experience and a new dimension to our squadron,” he
said.
British CO, SQNLDR Martin Davies, agreed that the scope of the
exercise was a unique training opportunity.
“Air space in the UK is very restricted and coming out
of three different bases made for more complex command and control
situations,” SQNLDR Davies said.
“The logistics of getting the aircraft here was also excellent
training for our flight crews. Since we arrived here, we’ve
hit the ground running and have combined seamlessly with all
the foreign forces involved.
“For many of us, this is our first trip out to Australia
and we’re heartily impressed by host nation support,”
SQNLDR Davies added.
Pitch Black is the Air Force’s largest exercise bringing
six nations and more than 1700 personnel together.
Thick
of the action
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CPL
Stuart Lloyd and CPL Toby Roberts prepare to refuel an
F/A-18.
Photo by LAC Dave Gibbs.
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THEY
may have called remote Western Australia home for the past three
weeks, but 1SQN members were in the thick of Pitch Black action.
Operating F-111C strike and RF-111C reconnaissance aircraft from
forward bare base RAAF Base Curtin, the squadron demonstrated
the F-111’s long range and endurance.
Exercise Pitch Black also saw the squadron integrate AGM-142 tactics
into large air strike packages for the first time.
According to CO 1SQN WGCDR Geoff Harland, Pitch Black has given
the squadron confidence in its ability to provide strike power
to the ADF.
“We have had the chance to test ourselves in a challenging
environment — to deploy and operate at a high rate of effort
from one of Australia’s bare bases,” he said.
“The main challenge has been keeping connected with air forces
on our side when coordinating the daily packages. As you can imagine,
being so far away means that we need to be quite inventive in
the way we keep in touch and plan missions.”
WGCDR Harland said 386ECSS personnel had been outstanding in their
efforts to make Curtin as workable and comfortable as possible.
Shoot
'em down
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IN
CONTROL: FLTLT Chris Van Hessing. Photo by LAC Dave Gibbs.
Photo by LAC Dave Gibbs.
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3SQN’s
FLTLT Chris Van Hessing was at the controls of one of the world’s
most potent fighters and accurate strike attack aircraft during
Exercise Pitch Black.
The pilot flew sorties in an F/A-18 Hornet as the squadron fought
to establish air superiority against its enemy, “Redland”.
“As my first exercise flying an F/A-18, Pitch Black has
been a very valuable experience,” FLTLT Van Hessing said.
“Working with many different nations including the Singaporeans,
British and Thais, is the definite highlight of the exercise.
It’s a great opportunity to see how different aircraft
work and to ‘shoot’ them down on our missions.”
Pitch Black saw 3SQN conduct an air offensive campaign around
the clock, targeting military assets, executing air strikes
and destroying the opponent’s military facilities.
Making
a jolly good observation
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WELL
DOCUMENTED: CPL Philip Nicoll documents the refueling
consumption of the Singapore F16s.
Photo by CPL Michael Davis.
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By FLTLT Kath Gibson
A resounding success - that’s the impression that foreign
observers left with at the conclusion of this year’s Exercise
Pitch Black.
Attracting significant participation from France, Singapore,
Thailand, the UK and US, Pitch Black also attracted interest
from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
A Foreign Observer Program showcased Air Force’s capabilities,
with 38 senior military officers from 18 countries, including
Bahrain, Germany, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, the Philippines,
Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
Luftwaffe Colonel Michael Kuhn said his trip had been a great
success.
“This is my first visit to Australia, and it’s a wonderful
opportunity to be here,” he said. “Exercise Pitch
Black is very similar to the multinational operations run by
NATO and the new European Battle Group. [However], unlike the
restrictive flying conditions in Europe, you have minimal restrictions
on airspace and the speeds that the aircraft can travel. It’s
a much wider training space than we have in the EU.”
WGCDR Salim Rashid Al-Ka’abi from Oman said that his country
would “definitely be back” for the next Pitch Black.
“We work regularly with the UK and US, and are regular
participants in Exercise Magic Carpet,” he said. Magic
Carpet is run annually by the Gulf Corporation Council for Arab
countries in the Middle East.
“The impression I will be taking home is of a vast country
with challenging operating conditions. The Australians did not
spare any effort in reaching out to us and making this visit
a resounding success.”
