Feature: ‘Pitch Black’ 2026 tests coalition interoperability and new capabilities
Australia’s multinational air combat exercise ‘Pitch Black’ 2026 yielded operational lessons for participants, enabling them to test new capabilities, build coalition frameworks, and develop their ability to lead large-scale combat packages, senior officers said.
Conducted primarily in northern Australia from 20 July to 7 August, the exercise involved 21 countries, including NATO members that participated in or observed air combat and multi-domain scenarios.
Data provided to journalists by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) at the event showed that nearly 3,400 personnel and more than 100 aircraft operated from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Bases Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley for the exercise. The DoD said the activity provided high-intensity day-and-night training intended to build combat readiness in complex battlefield environments.
Although ‘Pitch Black’ 2026 involved fewer aircraft than in previous iterations, Janes observed RAAF and international contingents deploying new or upgraded platforms to assess their capabilities across three broad operational and strategic areas: interoperability, including the integration of fourth- and fifth-generation platforms; expeditionary and agile combat employment concepts; and the development of common air tactics for future coalition operations.
The exercise aimed to “create a training environment that allows aircrews, ground crews, and support personnel from each of the countries to develop their skill sets and become better at what they do”, said RAAF Air Commodore Matthew McCormack, commander of the exercise and head of Australia’s Air Combat Group (ACG), during a media panel at the event.
He added that the exercise also sought to “forge professional working relationships between our team members to make sure that we understand each other, our strengths and our weaknesses, and that should we be called upon in the future to operate and fight a conflict together, that we are much more proficient”.
