PACAF Goes Pitch Black

Aug. 5, 2014

US Air Force assets arrived at several locations in Australia to take part in Exercise Pitch Black 2014, a multinational air exercise involving the air forces of several allies. Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest air exercise, and is staged at several locations in Australia’s northern territory, such as RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal, Delamere Air Weapons Range, and Bradshaw Field Training Area. This year’s iteration, which will run from Aug. 1-22, focuses on large-scale offensive counter air and “offensive air support missions” in large multinational formations. Pacific Air Forces recently redeployed a Theater Security Package from Kunsan AB, South Korea, to Australia to support Pitch Black activities. Participants this year include forces from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, France, the Royal Thai Air Force, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as other nations. The US last participated in Pitch Black in 2012. (PACAF release.)

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