Pitch Black 2010

16 July 2010
Hornets Arrive in Darwin for Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black 2010 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest and most complex Air Exercise with participation by Australian Defence Force and international personnel.

The exercise will involve participants from the Australian Army and elements of the Singapore, New Zealand and Thailand air forces that will participate in the tasking, planning and execution of Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Offensive Air Support (OAS) operations in a coalition environment.

Over 1500 personnel and up to 60 aircraft will support the exercise, with ground crews and aircrews operating some of the most sophisticated military systems employed in the world.

Australia’s F-111, F/A-18 ‘Classic’ Hornet, Hawk and PC-9/A aircraft will battle it out as ‘blue’ force challenges ‘red’ force. Thailand and Singaporean F-16s along with Singapore’s E-2C Hawkeye and KC-135 aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

The exercise will have two areas of operation: 'Blueland' located at RAAF Base Darwin and 'Redland' operating from RAAF Base Tindal.

2010 marks the final year the F-111s will take part in the exercise before they are decommissioned from service later this year.

Participating personnel see the exercise as an opportunity for goodwill and cooperation, whilst at the same time demonstrating their capacity to operate effectively in an international environment.

The first of Australia’s F/A-18 Hornets involved in Exercise Pitch Black 2010 arrive at RAAF Base Darwin.