Eurofighter Providing Air Defense, Repelling Enemy Assault in Designated Zone (24-Hour Operations - Pitch Black)
Pitch Black Exercise Enhances Large Force Employment Capabilities
The biennial Pitch Black exercise, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), is a significant international air combat training event that brings together over 20 nations to improve operational readiness and interoperability in a challenging environment.
The objective of Pitch Black is to enhance large force employment warfare capabilities by fostering international cooperation, enabling participants to operate and integrate forces over large distances, and exchanging best practices among air forces. This year's exercise, held at RAAF Base Darwin and other facilities in Australia's Northern Territory, includes over 140 aircraft and thousands of personnel.
During the exercise, participants conduct various missions involving integrated air combat tactics, employing advanced fighter jets and support aircraft such as multirole fighters, air-to-air refueling, and large transport aircraft. The training covers live or simulated weapon drops, supersonic flight, and involves both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat scenarios, often during night-time operations over vast, unpopulated airspace.
One of the crucial aspects of Pitch Black is interoperability, which is essential during the exercise for air forces to coordinate their actions and share advantages. The A330 MRTT from Australia, Singapore, France, the UK, or the Multinational MRTT unit is tasked with keeping combat aircraft operational longer and increasing their range. Ensuring safety during close formations is a key task for A330 MRTT operators during refueling.
Formations during Pitch Black can consist of up to 50 aircraft, day or night. Combat aircraft from 20 nations participate in the exercise, including the Indian Air Force's Su-30 MKI, the USA's F-35, and the F-22.
In offensive missions, Spanish Eurofighters are usually responsible for air-to-air deployments to clear the airspace for other combat aircraft to then attack ground targets. Fabian, a German Eurofighter pilot and unit commander at Pitch Black, and Major Fernando, a Spanish Eurofighter pilot and leader of air operations in the exercise, have together logged over 3,000 flight hours.
Air-to-air refueling is crucial during Pitch Black missions to maintain a high mission time. Each Pitch-Black mission typically lasts about two days, including a planning phase, a flight phase, and an analysis phase. The RAAF is responsible for the scenario in Pitch Black, typically simulating a situation where a disputed region has been overrun by the red side, and the blue side must retake it with the help of Pitch Black forces.
Fabian, the German pilot, explains that they are flying the good guys against the bad guys (Blue against Red) in the exercise, with the German Air Force contributing with their Eurofighters. Major Fernando states that the Eurofighter has superior air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, with its abilities still unmatched. The objective of Pitch Black is to neutralize the enemy threat.
The Spanish Air and Space Forces have never undertaken an operation of this magnitude before. They prepare for the exercise by simulating scenarios at their air base in Morón de la Frontera. Crew members from different nations, including Singapore, Australia, and France, exchange positions to gain insights into each other's operations and improve collaboration. Germany, France, and Spain, participating in Pitch Black, have a unique opportunity to enhance their collaboration during Pacific Skies.
Every aircraft has its own challenges during Pitch Black due to the variety of countries and platforms involved. Upon arrival in Australia, pilots start their training with reduced tactical equipment, gradually taking on more complex missions. The sunset over Darwin Air Base in Australia's Northern Territory is breathtakingly beautiful, providing a picturesque backdrop to the intense training and camaraderie that Pitch Black fosters.
In summary, Pitch Black is a key event for ensuring air forces remain prepared for complex regional contingencies and joint operations. It offers a rare environment to conduct highly realistic, large-scale aerial warfare training, including night flying and live weapon employment, which is crucial for building combat readiness and deterring potential adversaries collectively.
- The aerospace industry's advanced fighter jets, such as the German Air Force's Eurofighter and the USA's F-35, play a vital role in Pitch Black, a significant international air combat training event.
- Finance, particularly the investment in advanced aircraft like the A330 MRTT from Australia, Singapore, France, the UK, or the Multinational MRTT unit, is crucial for enhancing large force employment capabilities during exercises like Pitch Black.
){kind=link}