La Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) hosts the air exercise "Pitch Black", a type of large-scale training with 16 other nations including United States, Britain e France.
The exercise, which will run until 8 September, involves the participation of over 100 military aircraft engaged in thousands of combat scenarios conducted day and night over the skies of Northern Australia, using the city of Darwin as a base. logistics and operational.
Other countries participating in Exercise Pitch Black include Canada, Germany, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, the Australian Department of Defense said in a Note.
"Significant efforts have been made this year to advance air-to-air refueling capability among many of the participating nations "the commander of the exercise, Tim Alsop, colonel of the Australian Air Force, said in a statement.
"Air-to-air refueling is a force multiplier, providing essential range for our fighter jets. Working with many of the participating nations aims to increase our strength projection and maximize our capabilities ".
The exercise has traditionally been held in Darwin every two years since it began in 1981, but was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alsop also reported that several countries are participating in the Pitch Black Exercise.
Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the country's national broadcaster, reported that Su-30s from India and F-15s and F-16s from Singapore will return for the exercise this year while Eurofighter Typhoons from Germany and Britain and the Mitsubishi F-2s from Japan are debuting for the first time.
In comments to ABC, Alsop added that the Pitch Black is just an exercise between the air forces of different countries and has no political or demonstration purposes against any nation, despite mounting tensions in the Asia Pacific region.
The RAAF will also hold a day where members of the public will be able to visit the Darwin base to see the high-tech aircraft and fly over the city's famous Mindil Beach.