Exercise Pitch Black – CONTACT magazine

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet lands at RAAF Base Darwin following an Exercise Pitch Black 26 sortie. Photo by Warrant Officer Ricky Fuller.

Sun sets on Exercise Pitch Black 2026

08/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 552 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black 26 concluded on 7 August after three weeks of high-intensity air-combat training in the skies over Australia’s

Exercise Pitch Black 2026 participating nations give the Northern Territory community an opportunity to engage with military personnel at a RAAF Base Darwin Open Day. Photo by Corporal Ryan Howell.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Pitch Black open day in Darwin

02/08/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 759 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

A crowd of 25,500 people took the opportunity to meet Australian and international military personnel and see operational aircraft from

A Republic of Korea Air Force A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft arrives at RAAF Base Darwin to take part in Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Holly Ryan. Photo by Corporal Maddie Butcher.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Touchdowns continue in Darwin

17/07/202617/07/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 507 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

Top End skies are busy this week as International Air Forces arrive in the Northern Territory for Exercise Pitch Black,

A Philippine Air Force FA-50PH Golden Eagle aircraft in flight at RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flying Officer Leonie Midgley. Photos by Corporal Maddy Butcher.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

First arrivals for Ex Pitch Black

16/07/202617/07/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 620 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

The sunset touchdown of four Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50PH Golden Eagles signalled the first arrival of fighter jets for

RAAF Sergeant Aaron Bennet, centre right, with 2 Squadron personnel after cleaning up Billeroy House Community Centre in Darwin. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Blue thumbs help Darwin veterans drop-in centre

23/08/202430/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2790 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black, No. 2 Squadron, US Air Force

Although they wore different uniforms, US Air Force, Royal Air Force and RAAF aviators found out they all have a

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail leads a formation of aircraft past the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour during Exercise Pitch Black 2024. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Corporal Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Sun sets on milestone Pitch Black

07/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 4129 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black 24 was unlike any of its predecessors. CAPTION: A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail leads a formation

Angus, from the Starlight Children’s Foundation, tries on an F-35A helmet with the help of Corporal Daniel Lake, a 3 Squadron life support fitter, at the Pitch Black open day at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flying Officer Jamie Wallace. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF helps make a wish come true

02/08/202406/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2151 Views 0 Comments Community Engagement, Exercise Pitch Black, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, Starlight Children’s Foundation

The Royal Australian Air Force has teamed up with international partners and the Starlight Children’s Foundation to grant the wish

Firefighters from the Royal Air Force, RAAF and Royal New Zealand Air Force at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Annabel Francis-Jones. Photo by Aircraftwoman Campbell Latch.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Triple the fire power on Ex Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2854 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, fire, RAAF Amberley, RAF, RNZAF

Fire fighters from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Air Force seized the opportunity

Air surveillance operator Corporal Mikayla Dows, of 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit, monitors the air space inside the Mobile Control Reporting Centre during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Bandicoot spells end for Mobile Control and Reporting Centre

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2956 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, No. 114MRCU

Tucked away behind dimly lit screens are the faces of air battle managers and air surveillance operators illuminated by battlespace

Royal Thai Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Toranin Metananta departs RAAF Base Darwin for a sortie in a JAS-39 Gripen C during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RTAF celebrate 20 years at Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3590 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Darwin, Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is celebrating two decades of participation in Exercise Pitch Black, one of the world’s

An Italian Navy F-35B Lightning II prepares to land on ITS Cavour while underway at sea during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Cavour makes waves at Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 4639 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Italian Navy

The Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour sailed through week two at Exercise Pitch Black 24, intent on enhancing interchangeability with

Staff Sergeant Ian McLain from the United States Air Force monitors the E-7A Wedgetail from 2 Squadron before its next mission during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

AU UK US perspective on commanding the battlespace

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3169 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black, No. 2 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Scanning the skies as part of Exercise Pitch Black is nothing new to 2 Squadron but, for this year’s activity,

A RAAF FA-18F Super Hornet aircraft departs RAAF Base Darwin for a night flying mission as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2024. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Back-seat bandits on Exercise Pitch Black

30/07/202405/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2259 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, F/A-18F Super Hornet, RAAF Darwin

As Exercise Pitch Black continues to play out in the Northern Territory and all eyes look towards the sky, the

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.

News Royal Australian Air Force

European unity under southern skies

26/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2619 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Pacific Skies 24, RAAF Darwin

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

Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Aircraft Engineer Joshua Magun, of Air Transport Wing, inspects a PNGDF PAC P-750XL prior to a sortie during Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

New ground for PNG forces

26/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3268 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, PNGDF

From the rugged and jungle-covered mountains of Papua New Guinea to the flat and arid terrain of northern Australia, Pacific

A RAAF KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) pilot's view of a French Airbus A330 MRTT as they attempt to connect for air-to-air refuelling during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF’s petrol station of the skies

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2846 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

While cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet, sitting in a comfortable over-wing seat of a modified Airbus A330, you

From left, a Royal Air Force corporal, Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Benjamin Selwood, Royal New Zealand Air Force Corporal Rikki Rawleigh and Patrol Dog McClane patrol the apron at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Kiwis send largest contingent to Pitch Black 24

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2621 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, NZDF, RAAF Darwin

Australia’s friends from across the ditch have sent their largest contingent to the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest international exercise.

An Exercise Pitch Black multi-national formation with French Air and Space Force Rafale B; Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C Fighting Falcon; Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon; and RSAF F-15SG Eagle. Photo by Flying Officer Ben Dunleavy.

News Rest of World Royal Australian Air Force

Italian fighter jet crashes in NT outback

24/07/202425/07/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5617 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

A Eurofighter Typhoon F-2000 from the Italian air force crashed in remote bushland in the Northern Territory while participating in

Yuri, an F-35A pilot with the Italian Air Force, on the flightline during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Italy soars into Pitch Black debut

24/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2159 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Italian Air Force (ItAF), RAAF Darwin

As the sun rose over RAAF Base Darwin, F-35s from one of Exercise Pitch Black’s newest participants took to the

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Exercise Pitch Black – in videos

18/07/202425/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3665 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black 24 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s biennial capstone international engagement exercise, with forces drawn from a

← Previous