Exercise Pitch Black 2010

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Exercise Pitch Black 10 (PB10) is a three week multi-national air combat exercise, to be conducted in Northern Australia over the period 16 Jul – 6 Aug 10.

PB10 will be the largest RAAF Field Training Exercise for 2010 and will involve a combination of day and night flying from RAAF bases at Darwin (DAR) and Tindal (TDL).

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.

Main URL: Pitch Black 2010 - Department of Defence

Air Vice-Marshal Mark Skidmore, welcomes participating personnel of Exercise Pitch Black 2010, during the opening ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin.

Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore, Air Commander Australia speaking with the Local Northern Territory media during a press conference for the launch of Exercise Pitch Black at RAAF Base Darwin.

Air Commodore Mel Hupfeld, Officer Conducting the Exercise speaking with the Local Northern Territory media during a press conference for the launch of Exercise Pitch Black at RAAF Base Darwin.

Some videos from Pitch Black 2010:

Video1 : [nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buZgRwITMgQ[/nomedia]

Video2 : [nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cq0JYzaAH0[/nomedia]

Video3 : [nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSS9AvM47TE[/nomedia]

 

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Refueling RSAF's E-2C Hawkeye

Both air-to-air and ground refuelling is a vital component for aircrews operating during Exercise Pitch Black. Members from both the RAAF Base Darwin and Tindal Fuel Farms provide ground refuelling after each mission with the assistance of augmentees from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Military Expert 3 Thilagaraj from 111 Squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force and Leading Aircraftman Carol McCauley of the Royal New Zealand Air Force share a laugh while refuelling an E-2C Hawkeye at Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

 

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Leading Aircraftman Michael Wheeler, an Aircraft Technician from No. 3 Sqaudron, marshalls in an F/A-18 Hornet after it returns from another sortie during Pitch Black 2010.

No. 6 Squadron F-111 aircraft taxiing at RAAF Base Darwin prior to taking off on a mission for Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

Here's another photograph of Australian F-111s at their last Ex Pitch Black before retirement.

 

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Singapore Mindef Video: Exercise Pitch Black 2010

Aircrew from the Royal Australian Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Royal Thailand Air Force come together for a group photo during Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

Singapore Public Relations media crew cover a familiarisation session on the flight line at RAAF base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Back 2010.

(From L-R) Flying Officer Shaun Hayles of the Royal Australian Air Force, Captain Jervis Choo of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Squadron Leader Songsak Thammasarn of the Royal Thailand Air Force talk about the RSAF F-16s during a famiiarisation visit at Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

The exercise director for the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Colonel Tan Yik, discusses the exercise with aircrew from the Royal Australian Air Force at Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

 

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F-16 Falcons from the RSAF line up on the RAAF Darwin taxi way ready for their next mission during Exercise Pitch Black.

F-16 Falcons from the RTAF line up on the RAAF Darwin taxi way ready for their next mission during Exercise Pitch Black.

No. 3 Squadron F/A-18 Hornets line up on the RAAF Darwin taxi way ready for their next mission during Exercise Pitch Black.

A RAAF Hawk 127 commencing ascent after taking off from RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 flies past a Joint Terminal Attack Controller from No. 4 Squadron RAAF Williamtown NSW, during training at RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

JTACs provide a vital link between the aircraft and ground troops, providing up-to-date information on the battlespace from a forward position. This can either be done from the ground or from the air.

The JTAC course is four weeks long and consists of theory, simulation and practical application based training. During this time, students are taught about Offensive Air Support capabilities, airspace integration, Close Air Support and integration into the Joint Fires environment.

The Joint Combined Training Centre (JCTC) provides electronic warfare and opposition forces (EW/OPFOR) functions in support of allied air and ground combat forces to support high level training. JCTC utilises the Joint Deployable Electronic Warfare Range (JDEWR), the Advanced Ground Threat Targeting System (AGTTS) and the Portable Radar Warning Stimulator (PRWRS) to provide surface to air threats. Mobile hard skin and inflatable targets are used for dry and live targets for combined arms scenarios by providing the correct visual and radar signature. A Hard Skin ZSU 23-4 Gun Dish, used as a live target at the Delamere Air Weapons Range during exercise Pitch Black 2010 in the Northern Territory.

 

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Foreign observers and Boss Lift participants pose in front of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft which took them from RAAF Darwin to RAAF Tindal and back as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2010.

Members of the Foreign Observers Program from Brunei, Japan, India and Philippines rest and enjoy refreshments before undertaking a tour of RAAF Base Tindal.

L to R: Senior Colonel Nguyen Dat Phong, Vietnam Defence Attache to Canberra; John Cleary, Boss Lift participant and management consultant at Supply Train & Contracts; and Colonel Eiichi Kabeshima, Japan Air Self Defense Force enjoy a coffee and conversation during the combined foreign observers and Exercise Boss Lift visit to RAAF Tindal.

Senior Colonel Nguyen Dat Phong, Vietnam Defence Attaché to Canberra, and Senior Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Tu of the Vietnam Air Force catch up during their visit as part of the combined foreign observers and Boss Lift visit to RAAF Base Tindal.

Ian Flawith, Director Reserves Support; Lieutenant Colonel Jin Soon Choi from the Republic of Korea; and Commander Fred Gere from the Western Australian Police pose for an informal group shot as part of the combined foreign observers and Boss Lift visit to RAAF Base Tindal.

 

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(L-R) Flying Officer Edwin Borrman and Wing Commander Glenn Beck - both from 77 SQN, fly in formation on a redeployment flight to Darwin during exercise Pitch Black.

Flight Lieutenant Anthony Slaven of Red Force, calls "Showtime" over the radio, before deploying a flare to commence a mission during exercise Pitch Black.

An ABC Television videographer filming a Royal Australian Air Force F-111 taking off during Exercise Pitch Black at RAAF Base Darwin.

Squadron Leader Daniel Wilson having his photo taking by the Northern Territory newspaper photographer with a Royal Thailand F-16 taking off behind him.

 

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Technicians from ST Engineering perform the Foreign Object Debris (FOD) walk, clearing the pathway for the KC-135R's take-off.

As day breaks, the pilots and operators of the KC-135R make their way across the tarmac for their first flight of the day.

One last routine check on the KC-135R's engines for the pilot before his morning take-off with the rest of the flight.

1WO Bhonesveran, Boom Leader and Chief Warrant Officer of 112 SQN, making a final inspection of the boom of the KC-135R before their refuelling mission flight.

1WO Bhonesveran, Boom Leader and Chief Warrant Officer of 112 SQN, conducting the refuelling of a fighter in mid-flight from the KC-135R.

 

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Peering out of the cockpit for one final check, the E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning pilot prepares for his morning flight.

The E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning taking off on its first flight of the day.