Four Rafale jets, two C-17s and 120 personnel took part in the three-week multinational air exercise
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi,Updated At : 05:47 PM Aug 08, 2026 IST
During the intense multinational air operations, the IAF operated alongside partner air forces.
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday said its contingent at the multi-nation exercise ‘Pitch Black’ in Australia had “accomplished the mission” and “mastered” the skies, while several partnerships were “strengthened”
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The IAF, in a post on social media platform X, said the exercise had concluded, adding: “Mission accomplished. Skies mastered. Partnerships strengthened.”
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During the intense multinational air operations, the IAF operated alongside partner air forces, the post on X said, adding that the exercise elevated interoperability, exchanging hard-earned expertise and refining combat readiness under realistic conditions
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“Every mission and interaction delivered mutual gains in tactics, procedures, and professional excellence,” it said
The IAF contingent comprised four Rafale jets, two C-17 transport planes and 120 personnel. The IAF’s Rafales made their debut at the exercise, which featured 20 countries, including the Quad partners — the US, Japan, India and Australia
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More than 100 jets were part of the exercise, named ‘Pitch Black’, which was held from July 20 to August 7 along the northern coast of Australia
At the start of the exercise, the IAF had set its goals and described it as a unique platform to enhance interoperability and strengthen operational cooperation
The Australian Defence Ministry had said the exercise would “strengthen regional and global interoperability”. This was the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest international exercise, featuring complex, combat-like scenarios across one of the largest military training areas in the world over a three-week period, it said
Up to 100 jet aircraft joined the exercise, along with 2,500 personnel from 20 nations across air bases at Darwin, Tindal and Amberley, the Royal Australian Air Force said
‘Pitch Black 2026’ included aircraft from Australia, the US, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, India, Singapore, Germany, France and Spain. Military personnel from New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Brunei, Malaysia, Finland and Sweden were part of the drills
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