RAF Typhoons arrive Down Under to join 140 other aircraft on Exercise Pitch Black
Royal Air Force Typhoons and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker have joined more than 140 other aircraft on exercise in Australia.
The aircraft are flying sorties as part of Exercise Pitch Black, which tests the crews' ability to deploy over large distances and sustain air operations at range in the Indo-Pacific.
This year's iteration is the largest in the 43-year history of the exercise - involving 20 nations and up to 4,500 personnel.
With a focus on large-scale air missions, the exercise is being held at a time of rising tensions in the region between China and Taiwan and over the disputed South China Sea.
Six Typhoons from XI (Fighter) Squadron are at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin in the Northern Territory, while the Voyager aircraft from RAF Brize Norton’s Air Mobility Force is operating out of Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley in neighbouring Queensland.
The RAF Detachment Commander, Wing Commander Robertson, said: "Exercise Pitch Black provides an excellent opportunity for the Royal Air Force to work with a variety of other nations, some of whom we have operated alongside previously and some others for the first time.
"The training offered by Exercise Pitch Black is almost unique due to the expanse of Australia, giving pilots exposure to new challenges such as the increased range of operations and sheer number of adversary aircraft that can fit into the vast training airspace.
"Giving our respective nations a chance to integrate at this detailed, tactical level across all trades and professions strengthens our relationships and ensures interoperability in the future."
The exercise was preceded by Exercise Griffin Strike, a 9,000-mile trail from the UK undertaken jointly with the French Air and Space force in a display of long-range air power projection.
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