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Pitch Black 26 – Week 2 | LFEThe first Large Force Employment (LFE) mission of Week 2 is complete, with the Royal Thai A...
27/07/2026

Pitch Black 26 – Week 2 | LFE

The first Large Force Employment (LFE) mission of Week 2 is complete, with the Royal Thai Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons returning to RAAF Base Darwin following the opening sortie.

LFE missions bring together large numbers of aircraft from participating nations in complex, realistic air combat scenarios, testing teamwork, planning, and interoperability in demanding environments.

Here's a selection of images capturing the Thai Air Force F-16s as they recover from the day's first mission. With the pace of Exercise Pitch Black 2026 continuing to build, there's plenty more action still to come.

Some additional images from Friday's photo shoot as we wrapped up a fantastic week of Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Darwi...
26/07/2026

Some additional images from Friday's photo shoot as we wrapped up a fantastic week of Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Darwin.

From the first departures to the last recoveries, the skies over the Top End have delivered plenty of action, with an impressive mix of aircraft and participating nations on display.

Here's another selection of moments captured during Friday's flying. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed photographing them.

📸 Which aircraft or photo is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!

That's a wrap on the final day of Exercise Pitch Black 2026's training week! ✈️🌅After a week of early starts, late recov...
24/07/2026

That's a wrap on the final day of Exercise Pitch Black 2026's training week! ✈️🌅

After a week of early starts, late recoveries, and plenty of jet noise over the Top End, the crews have certainly earned a well-deserved breather before the next phase of the exercise.

We've put together a selection of photos from today's flying, capturing just a small glimpse of the incredible aircraft and crews that have made this week one to remember (more shots to come).

A huge shout-out to all participants and the RAAF Media team for facilitating today's visit on base.

Scroll through the gallery, enjoy the highlights, and let us know which shot is your favourite! 📸

The skies over Darwin put on another spectacular show as Exercise Pitch Black 2026 took centre stage with the Mindil Bea...
23/07/2026

The skies over Darwin put on another spectacular show as Exercise Pitch Black 2026 took centre stage with the Mindil Beach flypast.

As the sun dipped towards the Timor Sea, locals and visitors lined the shoreline, cameras in hand, waiting for the unmistakable roar of military jets overhead. From seasoned aviation enthusiasts to families enjoying fish and chips on the beach, everyone looked skyward as aircraft from around the world made their low-level pass along one of Australia's most iconic coastlines.

Let's be honest—it's probably the only Darwin traffic jam where nobody minds standing still!

If you missed it, don't worry... there are still plenty of incredible sights and sounds to come as Pitch Black 2026 continues across the Top End.

📸 Were you at Mindil Beach? We'd love to see your favourite photos in the comments!

Pitch Black 26As the week of training and familiarisation progresses, so too do the return times to base. With increasin...
22/07/2026

Pitch Black 26
As the week of training and familiarisation progresses, so too do the return times to base. With increasingly complex missions taking crews further afield and keeping them airborne longer, the last recoveries are now taking place well after sunset.

The extended flying days are all part of building the skills, coordination, and interoperability that make Exercise Pitch Black one of the world's premier multinational air combat exercises.

Pitch Black 2026 training day two draws to a close as the last of the participating aircraft chase the Top End sunset ba...
21/07/2026

Pitch Black 2026 training day two draws to a close as the last of the participating aircraft chase the Top End sunset back to RAAF Base Darwin.

With another full day of complex air combat training complete, the skies over the Northern Territory are already delivering some spectacular sights—both in the air and on the ground.

Stay tuned as we bring you more highlights from Day 3 of Exercise Pitch Black 2026.

The wait is over—Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is officially underway.Training Week kicked off with a spectacular morning la...
20/07/2026

The wait is over—Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is officially underway.

Training Week kicked off with a spectacular morning launch on Day 1, delivering a fantastic variety of aircraft taking to the skies in the early light. From the first engine starts through to the departures, the opening morning provided plenty of action and some outstanding photographic opportunities.

Here's a selection of our favourite captures from the first morning of flying. Stay tuned as we'll continue bringing you highlights, photos, and updates throughout Exercise Pitch Black 2026.

📸 Which aircraft are you most looking forward to seeing over the coming weeks?

✈️ EXERCISE PITCH BLACK 2026 TAKES TO THE SKIES 🇦🇺The countdown is almost over! From 20 July to 7 August, northern Austr...
16/07/2026

✈️ EXERCISE PITCH BLACK 2026 TAKES TO THE SKIES 🇦🇺

The countdown is almost over! From 20 July to 7 August, northern Australia will once again become the centre of international air combat training as Exercise Pitch Black 2026 gets underway.

Hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, this year’s exercise will see up to 100 aircraft and more than 2,500 personnel from 20 nations operating from RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal and Amberley.

First held in Darwin in 1983, Pitch Black continues to grow in size and complexity. 2026 marks the debut of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s F-35 Lightning II and the Indonesian Air Force’s T-50I Golden Eagle, while Finland and Sweden will also participate with embedded personnel for the first time.

Participating nations include Australia, the United States, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, India, Singapore, Germany, France and Spain, alongside personnel from New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Brunei, Malaysia, Finland and Sweden.

The exercise provides highly realistic, complex training designed to strengthen interoperability, enhance combat readiness and build closer relationships between allied and partner air forces across the Indo-Pacific.

Pitch Black 2026 will conclude a busy flying period in northern Australia following Exercises Diamond Storm and Southern Cross.

For aviation enthusiasts, there will also be opportunities to see the action up close, with the Mindil Beach Flying Display on 23 July and the RAAF Base Darwin Open Day on 1 August.

📷 Aviation Media Network will be bringing you extensive coverage of the aircraft, arrivals, departures and flying action throughout Exercise Pitch Black 2026. Stay tuned!

The below photos are from Pitch Black 2024

*****Exercise Pitch Black 26*****Following their successful participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2024, the Ejército del...
11/07/2026

*****Exercise Pitch Black 26*****

Following their successful participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2024, the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (Spanish Air and Space Force) has made a welcome return to Australia for Exercise Pitch Black 2026.

Today, the Spanish Air Force's advance party arrived aboard Airbus A400M Atlas T.23-10, marking the beginning of their deployment to the Northern Territory. Over the coming days, they will be joined by their Eurofighter Typhoons, which will once again take part in one of the world's premier multinational air combat exercises.

The photos below were captured during Exercise Pitch Black 2024, offering a look back at Spain's previous deployment as they prepare for another busy few weeks of flying alongside allied and partner nations.

📸 Have you spotted the Spanish A400M yet? Keep an eye out as the Typhoons are expected to arrive soon!

*****Exercise Pitch Black 26*****The German Air Force's Bavarian Tigers Squadron is expected to return to Exercise Pitch...
09/07/2026

*****Exercise Pitch Black 26*****

The German Air Force's Bavarian Tigers Squadron is expected to return to Exercise Pitch Black 2026, bringing with it a specially liveried Eurofighter Typhoon commemorating 70 years of the Luftwaffe.

The squadron previously participated in Exercise Pitch Black 2022, deploying its Eurofighter Typhoons to Australia, including the eye-catching "Air Ambassador" special livery that proved to be one of the highlights of the international detachment.

Ahead of the expected deployment, we had the opportunity to photograph the 70th Anniversary Typhoon during the Antidotum Airshow in Leszno, Poland, offering a closer look at the commemorative scheme before its anticipated appearance in Australia.


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