The UK detachment consisted of six Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby based XI (F) Squadron and Voyager from the Air Mobility Force based at RAF Brize Norton, plus supporting elements from across the RAF have been in Australia since the 12th July.
In week one the nations flying on the exercise conducted simulated offensive counter-air operations against another nation. During weeks two and three the aircrew focused on air interdiction scenarios in a complex air environment, which meant that participants were divided into either 'red team' or 'blue team' flying from separate locations attacking one another in varying scenarios. The overarching aim was to practice Offensive Counter Air and Defensive Counter Air combat in an airspace that is larger than the UK.
They said: “The Royal Australian Air Force, as the organiser of Pitch Black, is in charge of setting the scene. Typically, it is a disputed region that has been overrun by the red side, the bad guys, and the blue side has to take it back.
Interoperability means that each air force of each nation is not just looking out for itself, but is trying to share procedures at the operational level so that there is a common understanding of interrelated air operations and thus common benefits and advantages.”
For XI (F) Squadron, participation in Exercise Pitch Black also allowed the Squadron to renew friendships with the RAAF’s 1 Squadron with whom they flew alongside during in Exercise Bersama Lima in 2023. During the exercise, they also flew with nations with whom the UK is building new stronger relationships including Japan, India and Papua New Guinea.
The RAF Voyager has been integrated into a multi-national tanker force drawn from Australia, Singapore, France, and the NATO Multinational MRTT Unit for the exercise. This multinational force flew from RAAF Amberley in eastern Australia.
As well as the flying integration opportunities that the exercise has provided, the RAF’s ground-based support elements have had the opportunity to develop interoperability skills with other nations. Personnel from RAF’s Global Enablement Force were embedded with their Australian counterparts to bolster the support they were giving as Host Nation to the visiting nations.
This included RAF Police personnel carrying out joint patrolling and guarding, drivers joining a multi-nation team to conduct refuelling operations for the exercise and RAF chefs contributing to the catering for the more than 4,000 participants on the exercise.
The UK’s long-standing participation in the exercise is an indicator of the importance the UK places on developing long-standing relationships in the region and also creating new ones. It also reinforces the value that the UK places on regional security and fostering closer defence ties throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
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