Exercise Pitch Black 2022

Exercise Pitch Black is scheduled to be organised between 19 Aug 22 to 08 Sep 22. This is a biennial, multi-national exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Highlights

• Almost 2,500 personnel from over 17 countries and 100 aircraft will engage in both Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) combat drills.
• Australia is the host, and others attending include India, Germany, France, UAE, Malaysia, the US, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK, the Philippines, Thailand, Canada, and the Netherlands.
• The last edition was conducted in 2018. The 2020 edition of the exercise was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This year’s exercise will see the participation of over 100 aircraft and 2500 military personnel from various air forces.

Where is Pitch Black conducted?

It is conducted on Royal Australian Air Force’s Bradshaw Field Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range — one of the largest training airspaces in the world. Usually the drills are out of RAAF’s Base Darwin and Base Tindal, this year Base Amberley will also be used.

Exercise Pitch Black

In the 1980s, this first started in Australia’s Northern Territories between different RAAF units. Australia has been inviting international partners since then to practice new doctrines, combat and most importantly interoperability.

India in the exercise

In 2018, India participated in the exercise for the first time. Around 131 aircraft were involved and more than 4,000 personnel participated in the exercise. This also included Canada, France, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Thailand, US, Malaysia.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2022

Category: Defence Current Affairs • Important Days & Events Current Affairs