Exercise Pitch Black 2008 Gears Up Northern Territory For Air-to-air Combat

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3rd June 2008, 07:16pm - Views: 765





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DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE



Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT

Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946



CPA 156/08

Tuesday, 3 June 2008


EXERCISE PITCH BLACK 2008 GEARS UP NORTHERN

TERRITORY FOR AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT


Final preparations have begun for the most complex air combat training scenarios above the

skies of the Northern Territory.  From 6-27 June, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will

host an array of international Air Force participants in Exercise Pitch Black 08.


Pitch Black is a regular RAAF exercise held every two years in the Northern Territory.


Up to 3000 service men and women from Australia and countries including the United States,

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and France will support the exercise, with ground crews and

aircrews operating some of the most sophisticated military systems employed in the world.


An additional 60 aircraft from the RAAF and participating Forces will deploy to RAAF Base

Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal, near Katherine.  Fighter, strike, early warning, air-to-air

refuelling and transport aircraft will combine with selected surface forces and systems to

simulate and evaluate operational planning and tactics in war-like conditions.


In appreciation of the continued support of the Northern Territory community, RAAF Base

Darwin will host an open day on Saturday, 14 June between 10.00am and 2.00pm.  Open day

visitors will have an opportunity to get close up to the aircraft and personnel participating in

Exercise Pitch Black 08.


Significantly, this year’s Pitch Black will see the inclusion of forces from NATO and the

Royal Malaysian Air Force, and will make use of the Joint and Combined Training Centre to

interweave simulated assets into the live missions.  Pitch Black 08 will also be the last major

exercise for the Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 707 refuelling aircraft, with its impending

retirement from service during 2008.


“Exercise Pitch Black is a great opportunity for participating personnel to demonstrate their

capacity to operate tactically in a coalition environment,” said the Exercise Director, Air

Commodore Neil Hart, Commander Air Combat Group.


“Throughout this exercise, participating nations will be given the opportunity to demonstrate

their ability to participate and contribute in a multi-national defence exercise, across cultures

and regions,” Air Commodore Hart said.


Media Contact:

Defence Media Liaison:

(02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

Public Information Centre, Exercise Pitch Black 08:

1800 301 885






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