South Korean Air Force joins Australia's Pitch Black drill

Pitch Black has been conducted by the Royal Australian Air Force since 1981. The biennial exercise is designed to strengthen regional security and improve the ability of participating air forces to conduct combined operations.

South Korea first sent KF-16 fighters to the exercise in 2022. This year marks the country's third participation with aircraft. The 2026 exercise is expected to involve about 110 aircraft from 16 countries, according to the South Korean Air Force.

Participating aircraft include F-35A stealth fighters from Australia, the United States and Japan, Rafale fighters from India and Eurofighter Typhoons from Germany and Spain. The Indonesian Air Force is sending T-50i aircraft and the Philippine Air Force is deploying FA-50PH fighters. Both aircraft belong to the same family as South Korea's domestically developed FA-50 light combat aircraft.

The South Korean contingent will conduct combined air operations with the other participating forces after completing an adjustment period in Darwin.

Col. Ha Jung-mi, head of air operations at South Korea's 20th Fighter Wing, said the exercise would provide an opportunity to improve combined operational capabilities and interoperability. "We will take pride in representing the Republic of Korea and fully demonstrate the skills and professionalism we have developed," Ha said.

The previous Pitch Black exercise in 2024 involved about 140 aircraft and 4,400 personnel from 20 countries, making it the largest edition of the exercise at the time.