India to debut at Exercise Pitch Black

Indian Air Force on Wednesday announced sending 145 air warriors and four Su-30MKI fighter jets to Australia for India's maiden participation in multi-nation air combat drill— Exercise Pitch Black.

In addition, IAF would deploy one C-17 Globemaster and one C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft to ferry the personnel to the three week long mock war drill, beginning on July 24 that aims to undertake simulated air combat exercises in a controlled environment.

Being led by Group Captain CUV Rao, the contingent will depart from the at Air Force Station Kalaikunda Thursday via Indonesia. En route, the Su-30-MKI will be re-fulled mid-air by the IAF IL-78 tankers.

On on its return leg from Darwin to Subang in Australia, the Indian fighter jets would be refueled in air for the first time by Royal Australian Air Force's KC-30A tanker, an IAF spokesperson said.

This would be India's maiden participation in the biggest air combat training programme in the southern hemisphere involving several other air forces.

Way back in 2015, India and Australia agreed on IAF's participation in the multilateral war game. Following a bilateral meeting between then defence minister Manohar Parrikar and his Australian counterpart Kevin Andrews, the two sides also gave a public statement on India's presence at Pitch Black 2016.

The IAF, however, couldn't make it because of the certain operational issues.

The Australian exercise, said an officer, would provide unique opportunity for exchange of combat flying knowledge and experience with a large number of countries nations in a dynamic warfare environment. Over the last decade, IAF was participating in operational exercises hosted by various countries and continued with their engagements with some of the best air forces around in the world.

Taken place once in every two years since 2006, Ex-Pitch Black began with Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the US and grew to include France and Malaysia in 2008. New Zealand participated for the first time in 2010, followed by Indonesia in 2012. The United Arab Emirates also took part in 2014, followed by Canada, Germany and the Netherlands in 2016.

During the transit to Australia, IAF contingent would also have constructive engagement with Indonesian and Malaysian Air Forces, said the spokesperson.