More than a hundred aircraft and 2,500 military personnel from 17 nations will be joining the year’s Royal Australian Air Force Exercise Pitch Black in the Top End of the Northern Territory and Queensland this month.

Pitch Black director of engagement Group Captain Peter Wood said the biennial multi-national exercise would return from August 19 to September 8 after a four-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and would be conducted primarily from the RAAF Darwin and Tindal bases, but the RAAF Amberley base, located near Ipswich In Queensland, would also be used.

“Exercises will also be held over the ocean and other remote areas in the Top End including weapon ranges,” he said.

“A field hospital, stabilisation and security operations including Army and Air Force elements and logistical support will also be set up.

“International participation from within the Indo-Pacific region and further abroad, provides all nations’ personnel with experience in working with aircraft, systems and work practices, in northern Australia’s unique environment, that would otherwise be unfamiliar.”

Taking part in this year’s Exercise Pitch Black will be Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, he said.

“The training and integration of forces that occurs during this exercise directly support Air Force’s ability to conduct operations,” Group Captain Wood said.

While Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie said: “We are pleased that we can conduct the exercise this year and would like to thank the Northern Territory community for their interest and tremendous support.”