Australia’s Pitch Black Air Exercise Grows

A composite crew of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and U.S. Air Force air battle managers were part of the RAAF Boeing E-7A Wedgetail No. 2 Sqdn.

RAAF EA-18G Growlers approached an Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for air-to-air refueling.

An Australian Lockheed Martin F-35A prepared for tanking with an Airbus A330 MRTT.

A pair of Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16D+ Block 52 fighters carried the Raytheon Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bomb.

The French Air and Space Force deployed three Dassault Rafales for the exercise, which included a hop to its Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

A Singaporean Boeing F-15SG flew in the afternoon.

The German Air Force deployed to Exercise Pitch Black for the first time, bringing its colorful Eurofighter Typhoon.

Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKIs of 20 Sqdn. participated in Exercise Pitch Black for the second time.

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force sent five Mitsubishi F-2s to Australia.

Singapore is one of six countries to send its Airbus A330 MRTTs to Pitch Black.

A Singaporean Gulfstream G550 AEW (airborne early warning) aircraft departed, with Indonesian Air Force F-16 fighters in the background.

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighters flew from RAAF Tindal, located about 325 km (200 mi.) southeast of Darwin.

Exercise Pitch Black is known for its night missions. The Sun sets along a line of 16 Singaporean fighters.