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Exercise Pitch Black 2026 to run July 20–Aug. 7 in Australia’s Top End, with 100 jets and 2,500 personnel from 20 nations

Australia’s RAAF is set to host Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in the Northern Territory from July 20 to August 7, with 100 jets and about 2,500 personnel participating across 20 nations. The exercise includes debut appearances for Japanese F-35s and Indonesian T-50Is, underscoring growing partner air-power integration in the region.

Discovered 2026-07-16T05:30:01.773182-07:00 | 2026-07-16T05:30:01.773182-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Pitch Black 2026 is a large-scale, multinational air-combat training benchmark in the Indo-Pacific, bringing together 20 nations, ~2,500 personnel, and 100 jets over a three-week window.
The participation debut of Japanese F-35s and Indonesian T-50Is highlights shifting interoperability and capability exposure among partner air forces.
For defense aviation and aerospace planners, the exercise’s scope signals near-term demand and operational focus for multinational tactics, training support, and airpower readiness in northern Australia during July–August 2026.

Reported By

APAC Defence Reporter AeroTime India Defense News newsable.asianetnews.com ANI News Agency