The Indian Air Force (IAF) will commence its participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin from July 20. The biennial multinational air combat exercise, hosted by the RAAF, will continue until August 7 and brings together air forces from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond for complex air combat and large-force employment missions.
The IAF contingent comprises pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and other specialists. India has deployed its Rafale multirole fighter aircraft for the exercise, supported by the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter and the IL-78 air-to-air refuelling aircraft in combat support roles.
Exercise Pitch Black, named after its focus on night-flying operations over northern Australia’s vast unpopulated terrain, is one of the region’s largest and most significant multinational air exercises. The 2026 edition marks one of the largest in the exercise’s 45-year history, with extensive participation from partner air forces.
The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability, improve force integration and facilitate the exchange of operational best practices among participating nations. It will also provide the IAF an opportunity to validate expeditionary air operations over extended distances while operating in a realistic multinational environment.
India’s participation reflects its continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing operational synergy and promoting regional security across the Indo-Pacific. The IAF has previously participated in the 2018, 2022 and 2024 editions of Exercise Pitch Black.
