Multiple aircraft from the contingent of Pacific Skies 24 have touched down in Darwin, Australia, on Jul. 20th after a long journey from Japan. Marking another leg of a strategic deployment showcasing European cooperation and military capabilities.
The contingent, comprised of Rafales from France and Eurofighters from Germany and Spain, arrived to participate in Exercise Pitch Black, the premier international air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
A media briefing held upon arrival featured representatives from each nation. A Lt. Col. Dèf from the French Air Force detachment, Major Fernando from the Spanish Air Force, and Col Anderson, Detachment Commander for the German Luftwaffe Detachment, all expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming missions that will commence on Jul. 22nd and commended the RAAF’s preparation efforts.
While the media briefing focused on the Australian leg of the mission, it also shed light on Pacific Skies 24 in its entirety. This eight-week deployment, launched in late June, saw the European nations participate in a series of exercises across strategic locations.
Kicking off in Alaska with Exercise Arctic Defender, the Pacific Skies 24 deployment then continued to Australia for Exercise Pitch Black. Following their participation in Australia, the European contingent will deploy to India for the concluding leg of the mission – Tarang Shakti. Throughout Pacific Skies 24, all deployed aircraft – Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, A330 MRTT Phénix (tanker), and A400M (transport) – are European-made, highlighting the continent’s growing aeronautical prowess.
The European representatives emphasized the growing strength of partnerships between France, Germany, and Spain. This collaboration is exemplified by their participation in Pacific Skies 24 and their commitment to Exercise Pitch Black. The deployment not only strengthens ties with regional partners like Australia, India, and the United States, but also serves as a testament to the effectiveness of joint training and combined capabilities.
The French Air Force representative discussed the significant evolution of Exercise Pitch Black since 2004 when he first participated, noting technological advancements in participating aircraft and a rise in international involvement. He emphasized the enduring enthusiasm for the exercise and the growing strength of partnerships between the three European nations. This collaboration was exemplified by the joint deployment, Pacific Skies, which involved participation in exercises across several locations.
The briefing also addressed collaboration and challenges. While acknowledging ongoing analysis of learning from Artic Defender, Col. Andersen from the Luftwaffe stressed the importance of combined training and deployments. He highlighted the effectiveness gained through pooling capabilities and expertise. Additionally, logistics, particularly maintenance collaboration due to the shared Eurofighter platform, were identified as a key area of focus during the deployment.
Exercise Pitch Black 24 is the largest iteration of the event to date, with participation from 20 nations and over 140 aircraft. The arrival of the European contingent further underscores the exercise’s significance in fostering international cooperation and military preparedness.