RAF Typhoons and a Voyager have commenced sorties as part of Exercise Pitch Black in Australia.
The six Typhoons from XI (F) Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby, are currently stationed at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin.
The Voyager aircraft from RAF Brize Norton’s Air Mobility Force is operating from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberly. Exercise Pitch Black, which started on 12th July 2024, will run until 2nd August 2024.
This biennial exercise focuses on large-scale air missions and is set to be the largest in its 43-year history, featuring 20 nations, over 140 aircraft, and up to 4,500 personnel. The scale of the exercise provides an invaluable opportunity for international cooperation and training.
“Exercise Pitch Black provides an excellent opportunity for the Royal Air Force to work with a variety of other nations, some of whom we have operated alongside previously and some others for the first time,” said Wing Commander Robertson, Detachment Commander, quoted in a press release.
He added, “The training offered by Exercise Pitch Black is almost unique due to the expanse of Australia, giving pilots exposure to new challenges such as the increased range of operations and sheer number of adversary aircraft that can fit into the vast training airspace. Giving our respective nations a chance to integrate at this detailed, tactical level across all trades and professions strengthens our relationships and ensures interoperability in the future.”
The exercise was preceded by Exercise Griffin Strike, a 9,000-mile trail from the UK undertaken jointly with the French Air and Space Force, demonstrating long-range air power projection.
For the RAF, a significant benefit of Exercise Pitch Black is gaining experience in deploying over great distances and sustaining air operations in the Indo-Pacific region, while fostering stronger ties with partner nations.
Click bait title, read the whole thing to find out who was bitten ðŸ˜
So what would your title have been? A few British aircraft do a bit of casual cooperation flights with the odd foreigner aircraft in OZ?
Must be quite a gig to be involved in and there’s plenty of airspace and sunshine up in the north 🇦🇺.
It seemed fair to me.
Half a Sqn deployed to the other side of the world with all the other commitments ongoing out of a force which on paper is 7 Sqns strong is no mean feat.
Two good articles in latest edition of Air Forces Monthly on British air power. Key themes include the current budget constraints and anticipated issues of procuring more F35Bs at same time as ramping up Tempest spend and what percentage of the Typhoon fleet might receive necessary capability upgrades.
Also comments from a former senior RAF officer on his perceived view of the over riding focus on exercises, utilising relatively small numbers of RAF jets, apparently to the detriment of replenishing weapon stockpiles and the absence of a coherent air war plan in the event of a serious conflict.
Always former. These people never stand up to HMG.
The original title mentioned a “Bitish” aircraft
Squadron counts can be misleading. The RAF seems to have typically around 12 aircraft per squadron while the RAAF follows the USAF model typically with 24 airframes per squadron. So using the 12 aircraft per squadron model for combat fast jets, the RAAFs 72 F35As would be equivalent to 6 squadrons and the 24 Super Hornets and 12 Growlers a further 3 squadrons. True, the logistics involved in an overseas deployment of combat aircraft are challenging and impressive and need to be regularly practiced, but the RAF is not alone in having this capability. The RAAF frequently, sometimes simultaneously, deploys… Read more »
Stick them somewher closer to the SCS & start buzzing the illegal Chinese artificial island bases. See how they like being bullied like they do all their neighbours with legitimate claims there.
Demonstrate that Xi’s neo-colonial ambitions won’t be allowed.
and the Chinese, if pushed, would deal with them in short order. They should not be there and serve no purpose and scare no-one – just posturing and playing games