Singapore Participates in Multilateral Air Combat Exercise in Australia

The RSAF KC-135 Stratotanker conducting refuelling operations for RAAF aircraft.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is participating in Exercise Pitch Black, a large-scale multilateral air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Darwin, Australia. Held from 27 July to 17 August, this year’s edition of the biennial exercise will involve up to 140 aircraft and up to 4,000 personnel from 16 participating nations pitting their air combat skills against simulated threats in a challenging and realistic training environment, under day and night conditions. 

This year marks the largest number of participating countries in Exercise Pitch Black to date, with Singapore having one of the largest representations in terms of assets and manpower. The RSAF has deployed about 330 personnel, five F-15SGs, six F-16C/Ds, a Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW) aircraft and a KC-135R air-to-air refuelling tanker to participate in this year’s exercise.

On the significance of the multilateral exercise, the RSAF Exercise Director for Exercise Pitch Black 2018, Colonel Aldrin Tan said, “The RSAF is honoured to contribute meaningfully to the largest Exercise Pitch Black to date. The large-scale realistic air combat training, conducted under day and night operational scenarios, hones our people’s skills and competencies. We are grateful to the RAAF for such overseas training opportunities as it allows us to overcome our local airspace constraints. With 16 participating countries this year, this exercise is a testament to the close relationship that the RSAF shares with the other exercise participants. Besides learning and training with one another to enhance our interoperability, our people also develop lasting friendships with many of their air force counterparts.”

Established in 1990, Exercise Pitch Black seeks to enhance professionalism and interoperability among the participating forces, and foster closer rapport and mutual understanding among the service personnel.

Mission Leader Captain (CPT) Janzen Koh discussing mission strategy with the lead from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)'s flight team.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Engineers preparing the F-16C/D fighter aircraft before operations.