European unity under southern skies

Multiple European aircraft from France, Germany and Spain have touched down in Darwin for Pacific Skies 24.

CAPTION: The Pacific Skies 24 contingent from France, Germany and Spain at RAAF Base Darwin to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

This arrival is part of a combination of European air forces’ exercises, including Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black 24, in which the German Air Force (GAF), French Air and Space Force (FASF) and Spanish Air and Space Force (SASF) participate together as European nations.

Detachment Commander for the FASF Lieutenant Colonel Aurelien noted that this year was the 20th anniversary of Pacific Skies.

“We are really happy that our people have arrived safely at Pitch Black and are looking forward to participating in flying missions next week,” Lieutenant Colonel Aurelien said.

“Since 2004, everything has evolved; the jets have evolved, the nations participating have increased, the exercises are getting bigger but the passion is still the same.”

The intent of Pacific Skies is to demonstrate the special cooperation these European nations have with their partners in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthen the joint operational capability.

Pitch Black is one of many Pacific exercises being conducted as part of this activity, along with Arctic Defender in Alaska, Nippon Skies in Japan, RIMPAC in Hawaii and Tarang Shakti in India.

GAF Detachment Commander Colonel Björn Andersen complimented the preparation by the Royal Australian Air Force and said he was looking forward to a great exercise on Pitch Black.

“We’ve already had great training opportunities on Pacific Skies in Alaska and Japan, and we’re looking forward to interesting learning points and missions in Australia,” Colonel Andersen said.

“If you train together and deploy together, and this is one of the most complex deployments that we have done together, you bring more capabilities to the fight, you can concentrate on the things you do best.”

Aircraft involved in the arrival included two Rafales and one Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the FASF, five Eurofighters and two MRTT from the GAF and four Eurofighters and one A400M from the SASF.

SASF Squadron Commander Fernando Rojas Sevillano commented on the vast distances travelled by these European nations to land their aircraft in the Pacific.

“We are celebrating that our aircraft have arrived in Australia, which for us is the other side of the world,” he said.

“It shows the capacity of our air forces to deploy to pretty much anywhere all around the world.”

CAPTION: Pacific Skies representatives, from left, France’s Lieutenant Colonel Aurelien, Germany’s Colonel Bjorn Anderson and Spain’s Squadron Commander Fernand Roja Sevillano at RAAF Base Darwin to participate in Exercise Pitch Black.

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