IAF Participates In The Multi-Nation Air Warfare Exercise “Pitch Black” In Australia With Sukhois And C-17s

The Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel arrived in Australia on August 19 with the aim of starting a joint military exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The IAF has committed to taking part in Exercise Pitch Black 2022, which will take place in Darwin from August 19 to September 8.

The Ministry of Defense, the drill will be a biennial, international exercise hosted by the RAAF with a focus on “Large Force Employment combat.”

The edition was previously held in 2018, and the 2020 version was postponed because of the COVID-19 epidemic.

More than 100 aircraft and 2,500 soldiers from several air forces would take part in the planned exercise, the government added.

Notably, the IAF contingent, under the command of Group Captain YPS Negi, consists of around 100 airmen who have been sent with two C-17 and four Su-30 MKI planes. With both sides exchanging their tactics with the participating air forces, the goal is to carry out multi-domain air combat missions in a complicated environment.

The successful execution of the inaugural edition of the exercise is testimony to the professional capabilities, mutual understanding, and shared commitment of the two Air Forces, the IAF’s official Twitter account wrote. The IAF contingent will now attend Pitch Black 2022 at RAAF Darwin, Australia.

The four day #ExUdarashakti culminated on 16 Aug 22 with a traditional closing ceremony hosted by #RMAF.

The ceremony was marked with a 7 aircraft formation flypast by both Air Forces & exchange of mementoes between the contingent leaders.#ForeverInTheSkyTogether pic.twitter.com/Q2t13vFdNY

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 17, 2022