INDIAN AIR FORCE EX PITCH BLACK 2026 AT DARWIN, AUSTRALIA

The Indian Air Force will commence Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin from 20 July to 7 August 2026. The biennial RAAF‑led multinational air combat exercise focuses on night flying over northern Australia. The IAF contingent will field Rafale fighters, supported by a C‑17 Globemaster‑III and an IL‑78 aerial refuelling aircraft, comprising pilots, engineers, technicians and controllers. The exercise aims to validate expeditionary air operations, enhance interoperability, and strengthen professional partnerships across the Indo‑Pacific region. The IAF has previously taken part in the 2018, 2022 and 2024 editions.