Forged in the fight

Before the first aircraft launched and long after the final sortie returns, thousands of personnel work together to ensure Air Force can generate and deliver air power whenever the nation needs it.

That preparedness was on full display during Exercise Pitch Black, Australia’s premier multinational air combat exercise.

The exercise provided realistic, high-tempo training designed to strengthen interoperability, sharpen operational skills and enhance the collective ability of allies and partners to deliver air power in complex strategic environments.

CAF AIRMSHL Stephen Chappell said Pitch Black demonstrated the level of preparedness required for Air Force to generate combat-ready capability and respond to emerging challenges at short notice.

“For Air Force, preparedness means that we can generate and deliver highly effective air power 24/7, 365 days a year and, if we're ever called upon, we can deliver it with a high degree of lethality and survivability,” AIRMSHL Chappell said.

This year’s iteration placed participants in demanding scenarios that replicated the complexity and uncertainty of contemporary military operations. Aircrew, ground crew and support personnel worked together to solve tactical problems to achieve mission success.

While flying operations are the most visible component of the exercise, AIRMSHL Chappell said air power was generated by a much broader team effort.

“Generating and delivering air power is a massive team sport. It takes the entire team to generate and deliver Air power, and we can’t do that without every single member of the team firing all cylinders,” he said.

Designed to build credible capability and strengthen coalition effectiveness, the exercise enhances participating nations’ ability to operate collectively as an integrated force. Success depends on the seamless integration of people, platforms and processes across multiple domains, reflecting the National Defence Strategy’s emphasis on an integrated and focused force. By bringing together military, government, industry and international partners, the exercise strengthens Australia’s preparedness and deterrence posture.

Central to this capability are the people who generate and sustain it. Air Force’s focus on generating capability is balanced by an equally important commitment to preserving the force. 

Throughout the three-week exercise, personnel operated at a demanding tempo, while maintaining opportunities to rest and build the personal and professional relationships that contribute to long-term resilience. Relationships were also built beyond the Australian force, forming the foundation of its multinational success.

“We’re not going to operate alone in competition, crisis or conflict. We’re going to do it as part of a broader international team. That takes practice, professional relationships and personal relationships. That’s what we’re building here at Pitch Black,” AIRMSHL Chappell said.

Building that level of preparedness requires training in the conditions crews may face in future operations. Throughout the exercise, flying missions were conducted by day and night, with operations in darkness placing additional demands on aircrew, maintainers and support personnel. 

While technology continues to evolve, AIRMSHL Chappell said there was no substitute for realistic training.

“The only way you can do that well is by practising at night. That’s why night flying is such an important part of Exercise Pitch Black and, by doing so, it gives us an advantage over potential adversaries of the future,” he said.

As this year’s Pitch Black concluded, it reinforced the critical role realistic training plays in building a prepared and integrated force. By bringing together allies and partners in complex and demanding scenarios, the exercise strengthened collective readiness, enhanced deterrence and ensured Air Force remains ready to deliver highly effective air power whenever Australia’s security interests require it.