From 20 July to 7 August, Exercise Pitch Black 2026 will bring together 20 nations and more than 100 aircraft for three weeks of demanding, complex multinational combat air flying and training across one of the world’s largest military training environments.
Darwin may sit on the far northern edge of Australia, more than 14,000 kilometres from the UK; but Royal Air Force personnel have travelled across continents and oceans to take part in Exercise Pitch Black 2026.
Getting to northern Australia is an adventure in itself; and while aircraft may grab the headlines, the exercise is just as much about the people, teamwork and partnerships. From engineering and logistics teams to planners and aircrew, chefs, refuellers and many other support staff; it will test not only flying skills, but the teamwork and cooperation that underpin every operation. Hundreds of people have travelled halfway around the world to train alongside international partners and strengthen relationships.
Deploying from the United Kingdom, personnel travelled across the globe via Alaska and Guam before arriving at Royal Australian Air Force Base (RAAF) Amberley in Queensland. From there, the force continued north-west to RAAF Base Darwin, covering almost 2,850 kilometres across Australia. The journey from Amberley to Darwin is the equivalent of driving from London to Glasgow more than four times.
It is a reminder of the scale of Australia and the vast distances involved in bringing people, equipment and aircraft together to generate and sustain air power across the Indo-Pacific region.
Throughout the exercise, RAF personnel will work alongside allies and partner nations, sharing expertise, learning from one another, sharpening skills and strengthening the relationships that make international cooperation possible.
That collaboration happens everywhere; in planning cells, engineering facilities, logistics hubs, operations rooms and out on the flight line. Working together effectively is not simply about flying in the same airspace; it is about people building trust, understanding different ways of working and solving challenges as a team.
Exercise Pitch Black is an opportunity for partner nations to deepen relationships, develop skills and build the trust to be agile, integrated, and ready.
