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RAF jets taking part in large Australian Air Exercise

Image shows RAF Pilot in the cockpit of a Voyager aircraft.

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker are taking part in a major Australian air exercise for the first time.

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Hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, Exercise Pitch Black will see up to 100 aircraft and around 2500 personnel from 17 nations train together for three weeks.  The exercise is being conducted primarily from the Royal Australian Air Force bases at Darwin and Tindal in the Australian Northern Territory.

Image shows two RAF Typhoons in flight.

An event such as Pitch Black is extremely important to the RAF as it tests the ability to deploy air power at speed to any part of the world, in addition to the valuable training opportunity with key partners and allies.

The UK’s participation in such a significant exercise in the Indo Pacific highlights the importance placed on the region.  The complexity of this exercise has also given the planning staff at 11 Group, together with the RAF personnel at the various Embassies and High Commissions, the opportunity to demonstrate the RAF’s ability to project and deliver combat power in the Indo Pacific.

Air Vice-Marshal Robinson
Air Officer Commanding No 11 Group

The UK’s contribution to Exercise Pitch Black is designed to be a tangible demonstration of UK air power and highlights the UK’s ability to deploy rapidly at long range. It also illustrates the UK’s desire to build professionalism and enhance international military relationships for the safe and effective conduct of air operations with regional and partner nations.

Image shows a RAF Typhoon and the wing of another Typhoon in flight.

Participation on such exercises support the UK Government’s identification of the Indo-Pacific region as being critical to the UK’s economy, security, and global ambition to support open societies. The RAF’s participation therefore is designed to deepen defence engagement in the region in support of shared prosperity and regional stability.

I am delighted Typhoon and Voyager are here in Australia for Exercise Pitch Black. This is an exceptional opportunity to train with our partners and Allies in the Indo-Pacific region and underlines the strong history and shared values the RAF shares with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Wing Commander Brookes
Air Adviser at the British High Commission Canberra

Image shows RAF Typhoons in formation as they fly.

The first week of the exercise comprised fighter integration training designed to improve interoperability ahead of more complex and collaborative training in the second week. Throughout the exercise the Voyager will refuel fast jets from other participating nations.

Exercising at this scale and complexity is simply not possible in Europe. With 50,000 square miles of training area, alongside a variety of different aircraft, with support from air-to-air refuelling tankers and E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, we are able to test ourselves in scenarios which mirror closely real-world combined air operations.

Wing Commander Rees
Officer Commanding 6 Squadron

Once the exercise concludes the RAF contingent will be returning to the UK via India where during a short stop over it is planned to conduct a brief period of Bilateral training with the Indian Air Force.

The RAF performed a flypast at the Mindil Beach Air Display, in Darwin, Australia.

Image shows RAF Typhoons in formation as they fly.

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