Article Posted on : - Jul 27, 2010

Republic of Singapore Air Force E-2C Hawkeye at Exercise Pitch Black 2010. Photo: Australian MoD.

SINGAPORE (BNS): The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is currently participating with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in a largest air combat Exercise Pitch Black at Darwin, Australia.

The three week multi-national air combat exercise kicked-off on 16 July and will continue till 6th August, in Northern Australia.

"The RSAF's eight F-16 Falcons, E-2C Hawkeye airborne control aircraft, KC-135 tanker and logistics component are playing a significant part in the exercise and thus will help to test a number of air combat scenarios in realistic 'war-like' conditions," Officer Conducting the Exercise, Air Commodore Mel Hupfeld, said in an Australian MoD news release.

The 20th edition of Exercise Pitch Black was started between the RSAF and RAAF, and later included other air forces of the region.

"Pitch Black is a very valuable exercise in terms of co-operation between the participating nations. Operationally we learn a lot, especially in the Pitch Black multi-lateral environment," he added.

This year, for the first time, RSAF will deploy live weapons at Delamere and Bradshaw air weapon ranges.

During the exercise Australia's F/A-18 Hornets and F-111s will work alongside the RSAF, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Thailand Air Force as 'blue' air, operating from Darwin.

The exercise will involve participants from the Australian Army and elements of the Singapore, New Zealand and Thailand air forces that will participate in the tasking, planning and execution of Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Offensive Air Support (OAS) operations in a coalition environment.