Exercise Pitch Black
Encyclopedia
Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial military exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force
. The exercise is normally held in Northern Australia (there have been a few exceptions) primarily at RAAF Bases Darwin
and Tindal
.
International Air Forces with defence ties to Australia are invited, which normally consist of France
, Malaysia, Singapore
, Thailand
, New Zealand
, USA and the UK. Countries unable to participate are able to send observers.
The aim of the exercise is to practice Offensive Counter Air and Defensive Counter Air combat, in a simulated war environment. It traditionally consists of a 'red team' and a 'blue team' based at separate locations, with one attacking the other.
Although the 2000, 2004 and 2006 exercises were held in the Northern Territory
, the 2002 exercise was scaled down and held at RAAF Bases Amberley
and Williamtown
, on the Australian East Coast.
In the 2006 exercise, RAAF Curtin
(a bare base) was stood up to join Darwin as a second Offensive Counter Air base. RAAF F-111s were the only aircraft based there.
RAAF Base Glenbrook
(near Sydney) is used as the command and control centre, as it would if the simulated conflict were real.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. The exercise is normally held in Northern Australia (there have been a few exceptions) primarily at RAAF Bases Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
and Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No...
.
International Air Forces with defence ties to Australia are invited, which normally consist of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, USA and the UK. Countries unable to participate are able to send observers.
The aim of the exercise is to practice Offensive Counter Air and Defensive Counter Air combat, in a simulated war environment. It traditionally consists of a 'red team' and a 'blue team' based at separate locations, with one attacking the other.
Although the 2000, 2004 and 2006 exercises were held in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, the 2002 exercise was scaled down and held at RAAF Bases Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
and Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
, on the Australian East Coast.
In the 2006 exercise, RAAF Curtin
RAAF Curtin
RAAF Base Curtin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located near the town of Derby on the north coast of Western Australia. As it is one of the RAAF's three 'bare bases' no Air Force units are currently based at Curtin and it is maintained by a small caretaker staff during peacetime...
(a bare base) was stood up to join Darwin as a second Offensive Counter Air base. RAAF F-111s were the only aircraft based there.
RAAF Base Glenbrook
RAAF Base Glenbrook
RAAF Base Glenbrook is home to Headquarters Air Command of the Royal Australian Air Force. There is no airfield at Glenbrook, although it is an HLS . It is a small base in the Lower Blue Mountains outside Sydney, New South Wales, with most administrative services located on the nearby RAAF Base...
(near Sydney) is used as the command and control centre, as it would if the simulated conflict were real.