IAF participates in ‘Pitch Black’, ‘Udara Shakti’ exercises

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully concluded its participation in multinational ‘Exercise Pitch Black’ exercise in Australia and bilateral ‘Exercise Udara Shakti’ in Malaysia. 

• The dual-nation deployment underscored the IAF’s operational reach, advanced tactical coordination, and commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.

Exercise Pitch Black

• Exercise Pitch Black was conducted from July 20 to August 6 in RAAF Base Darwin, Australia.

• It is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) most significant flying activity for strengthening international engagement and enhancing ability to work with overseas partners.

• It was first held from RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales in June 1981 as a three-day air defence exercise.

• Held every two years, the exercise focuses on large force employment missions involving large numbers of international aircraft.

• The IAF deployed its frontline Rafale aircraft to operate alongside Air Forces from over 20 participating nations. 

• Executing complex Large Force Employment (LFE) missions in a high-threat, multi-domain environment, the exercise enabled seamless tactical integration, cross-learning, and enhanced interoperability among coalition partners.

Exercise Udara Shakti

• Following the operations in Australia, the IAF contingent deployed directly to Subang, Malaysia for ‘Exercise Udara Shakti’. 

• IAF aircrew executed high-intensity combat sorties and joint tactical manoeuvres alongside the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), flying with and against Su-30MKM and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. 

• The bilateral engagement focused on refining air combat tactics, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), and optimising combined operational flexibility.

Other bilateral exercises with Malaysia:

• Samudra Laksamana - Navy exercise

• Harimau Shakti - Army exercise.