Table of Contents
Pitch Black Air Force Exercise 2018
AUSTRALIANS FEAR CHINESE INFLUENCE
•The 14th annual Lowy Institute poll into Australian attitudes found 72 per cent of Australians believe the government is allowing too much investment from China • 70 per cent of Australians agree that China’s recent assertive foreign policy stances suggest it will become a militarily aggressive power.
WHY AUSTRALIA NEEDS INDIA
• In 2007, Australia sent ships to Exercise Malabar. • But then the Rudd Labor government abruptly withdrew from a security forum involving the four countries, after concerns were expressed by China. • The Turnbull government has sought to rejoin the club and officials from the four countries met last year to discuss reviving the forum. • It’s believed Australia’s decision to pull out a decade ago continues to spark wariness in New Delhi.
INDIA JOINS IN
•Indian Air Force (IAF) for first time will participate in multinational air exercise Pitch Black – 18 (PB-18) in Australia hosted Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). •It will be three week multi-national large force employment exercise (27 July to 17 Aug
PITCH BLACK
•PB-18 Exercise will host up to 4000 personnel and up to 140 aircraft from 12 participant countries including Australia, Canada, India, Germany, Indonesia, France (New Caledonia), Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and United States. • It will include day and night flying.
INDIAN AIR FORCE
•IAF contingent comprised of 145 air-warriors including Garud commando team, four Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter planes and C-130 and C-17 transport aircraft. •IAF men and planes will undertake simulated air combat exercises in controlled environment and mutual exchange of best practices towards enhancing its operational capability.
NOTES
•After completion of exercise, on its return leg from Darwin to Subang (Indonesia), IAF fighters will be refuelled in air for the first time by RAAF KC-30A. •Moreover during transit to Australia, IAF contingent will also have constructive engagement with Indonesian and Malaysian Air Forces.
A330 MRTT / KC-30A VOYAGER
•The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330.
EXERCISE PITCH BLACK
•It is a biennial warfare exercise hosted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is normally held in Northern Australia, primarily at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal. •The aim of the exercise is to practice Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) combat, in simulated war environment.
PITCH BLACK
•It traditionally consists of red team and blue team based at separate locations, with one attacking other. The first Pitch Black exercises took place in 1981 between different RAAF units.
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