In a significant display of military cooperation, India’s Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets have joined Australia’s largest international air combat training exercise, Pitch Black. The exercise, which began today at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases in Darwin and Tindal, features a record 140 aircraft and over 4,000 personnel from 20 nations.
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Moreover, this year’s iteration of Exercise Pitch Black is the largest in its 43-year history, with first-time participants from the Philippines, Spain, Italy, Papua New Guinea, and embedded personnel from Fiji and Brunei. The exercise aims to enhance international partnerships and strengthen military ties among like-minded nations.
The Indian Air Force contingent, which includes four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft, will participate in large-force employment missions alongside aircraft from France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Exercise Pitch Black provides a unique opportunity for international forces to train together in complex scenarios, utilizing some of the most advanced aircraft and battlespace systems in one of the largest military training airspace in the world.
However, the exercise demonstrates the shared commitment of participating nations to sustaining peace and stability in the region.
