13 June 2008
Captain David Emich final F/A-18 flight

International Air Force participants have taken to the skies above the Northern Territory for air combat training during Exercise Pitch Black. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is hosting an array of international Air Force participants for Exercise Pitch Black 2008 which concludes on Friday, 27 June.

Pitch Black is an Air Force exercise held every two years in the Northern Territory. The Exercise makes use of the Joint and Combined Training Centre interweaving simulated assets into the live missions.

Fighter, strike, early warning, air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft are working with participating surface forces and systems to simulate and evaluate operational planning and tactics in war-like conditions.

Up to 3000 service men and women from Australia and countries including the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and France support the exercise, with ground crews and aircrews operating some of the most sophisticated military systems in the world.

Significantly, this year’s Pitch Black includes forces from the European NATO Alliance and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

An additional 60 aircraft from the RAAF and participating Forces have deployed to RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal, near Katherine.

Visitors are invited to meet aircraft and personnel involved in the Exercise at an Open day at RAAF Base Darwin on Saturday, 14 June between 10.00am and 2.00pm.

Pitch Black will also be the last major exercise for the Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 707 refuelling aircraft, with its impending retirement from service during 2008.