Context
Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) concluded participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia. The exercises strengthened air-combat coordination, interoperability and defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Explanation
- Exercise Pitch Black is a multinational air-combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Australia.
- In its 2026 edition, the IAF deployed Rafale fighter aircraft and operated with air forces from over 20 countries.
- It involved Large Force Employment (LFE) missions, where many aircraft jointly conduct complex operations in a simulated high-threat environment.
- Exercise Udara Shakti is a bilateral air exercise between India and Malaysia, involving the IAF and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
- In 2026, IAF aircraft trained alongside Su-30MKM and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft of Malaysia.
- The exercises covered air-combat tactics, joint mission planning, maintenance practices and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE).
- Such exercises improve interoperability, meaning the ability of different countries’ armed forces to operate effectively together.
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