The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully concluded its participation in two pivotal international flight engagements: Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia. The dual-nation deployment underscored the IAF’s operational reach, advanced tactical coordination, and commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.
During Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the IAF deployed its frontline Rafale aircraft to operate alongside Air Forces from over 20 participating nations. Executing complex Large Force Employment (LFE) missions in a high-threat, multi-domain environment, the exercise enabled seamless tactical integration, cross-learning, and enhanced interoperability among coalition partners.(s-pib)
