Aircraft from around the world will take to Australia’s skies for the return of Exercise Pitch Black, the Royal Australian Air Force’s premier, biennial flying activity.
From 20 July to 7 August 2026, aircraft and participating nations will return to RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory, and RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, for the Air Force’s most significant international engagement activity.
Exercise Pitch Black is designed to improve interoperability between Australia and its regional and global partner air forces in complex, combat-like scenarios. Flying complexity will increase over the three-week exercise, with missions building throughout the period in the Northern Territory military airspace.
Building on the success of the 2024 exercise—which featured over 140 aircraft and 4,000 personnel from more than 16 countries—the 2026 edition is expected to be larger and more complex. Exercise officials have indicated that greater use of RAAF Tindal will help accommodate growth, as aircraft parking space in Darwin remains a challenge.
The exercise will close out a high-tempo flying period across Northern Australia, preceded by Exercises Diamond Storm and Southern Cross.
Who Is Participating:
While the official participant list continues to develop, preliminary reporting indicates an impressive lineup of nations and aircraft expected for the 2026 exercise. Among those mentioned are:
Brunei (C-295)
India (Rafale)
Indonesia (F-16, C-130)
Japan (F-35, E-2)
Malaysia (Su-30)
Philippines (FA-50)
Papua New Guinea (PAC-750)
Singapore (F-16, G-550)
South Korea (F-16)
Thailand (F-16)
USA (F-35, MV-22, C-130)
Other nations expected to join include Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, bringing the total to approximately 20 participating nations.
The Strategic Importance of Pitch Black
Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is vital for the preparedness and collective security of both Australia and the wider region. The Northern Territory’s strategic location makes it an ideal hub for advanced defence activity across land, sea, and air.
The exercise provides participating air forces with a unique opportunity to:
Exchange knowledge and experience in a dynamic warfare environment
Operate alongside unfamiliar aircraft and systems
Strengthen relationships among regional and global partners
Enhance combined air operations across the Indo-Pacific
As one participant noted, missions involving up to 50 aircraft simultaneously represent “an incredibly complex scenario to work through” when multiple nations contribute to the same mission.
As per previous iterations, Exercise Pitch Black 2026 will include a Mindil Beach Flypast on 23 July 2026 and the RAAF Darwin Open Day on 1 August 2026 to thank the community for their ongoing support . These events offer rare opportunities for the public to see advanced military aircraft up close and meet air and ground crews from around the world.
Exercise Pitch Black 2026 represents a cornerstone of Australia’s commitment to regional security, demonstrating the power of international collaboration in an increasingly complex strategic environment.
