Debut for German and Australian F-35A in Pitch Black Exercise

16 Agustus 2022

Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoon (photo : AeroTime)

German Eurofighter's Australian debut

The German Air Force, known as the Luftwaffe, will participate in Exercise Pitch Black for the first time.

Travelling to Australia as part of the Rapid Pacific deployment, the Luftwaffe will arrive in mid-August with more than 200 personnel, six Eurofighter Typhoons, three A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports and an A400M transport aircraft.

Chief of the German Air Force Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz said this is the first time the German and Australian air forces have trained together.

“The Indo-Pacific is of great importance to Germany. We share the same values with many partners in this region,” Lieutenant General Gerhartz said.

“Defending those values in case of a war emergency and being able to support our partners is something that needs to be practised.”

The German Eurofighter is a multi-role aircraft employed in air-to-air as well as air-to-ground combat – both at close range and from a long distance.

The German Air Force with its Eurofighters also assumes responsibility in Europe and within NATO for securing the airspace – this includes the quick reaction alert element in Estonia, and working closely with Italian and UK air forces in Romania.

The German government has recently agreed to procure F-35 aircraft to replace the Tornado weapon system, with Pitch Black providing an opportunity to integrate more closely with Australia’s F-35A.

“The F-35 aircraft will further expand the broad spectrum of our capabilities. Since the Royal Australian Air Force is already flying this combat aircraft, we will be able to learn from them as well,” Lieutenant General Gerhartz said.

Following Exercise Pitch Black, the Luftwaffe will participate in Exercise Kakadu before continuing their Rapid Pacific deployment to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Lieutenant General Gerhartz will fly himself in a Eurofighter during Exercises Pitch Black and Kakadu, through to Japan following the exercises. (Aus DoD)

RAAF F-35A Lightning II (photo : Aus DoD)

A forecast of Lightning for Pitch Black

Dominating the skies of the Northern Territory, the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II will participate in Exercise Pitch Black for the first time.

Transitioning from the Classic Hornet to the F-35A since the last iteration of Exercise Pitch Black, Nos. 3 and 75 Squadron will be putting the RAAF’s fifth-generation aircraft through its paces in a multi-national air combat environment.

Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron, Wing Commander Adrian Kiely, said Pitch Black provides an outstanding opportunity for detailed training with our partners through large-force mission planning and execution.

“Exercise Pitch Black is the largest Australian-based international exercise 81 Wing has participated in since transitioning to the F-35A and we’re excited by the opportunity to integrate the jet’s advanced capabilities with so many of our international partners,” Wing Commander Kiely said.

“Across the exercise, we aim to improve our collective air combat capabilities in a complex and contested environment.

“Our focus for Pitch Black is on strengthened international integration, which is paramount to further improving our ability to come together as a highly effective and interoperable force.”

Pitch Black is a biennial three week multi-national exercise with 17 nations including Australia participating this year from August 19 to September 8.

Wing Commander Kiely said the local community will have the opportunity to get a taste of F-35A action while No. 3 Squadron is deployed in the Top End.

“RAAF Base Darwin is one of the premier air combat training locations worldwide,” he said.

“Darwin’s base and support agencies are highly adept at facilitating large force employment, and the NT military airspace is among the best in the world.

“We greatly appreciate the ongoing support we receive from NT residents and in particular the Darwin local community.

“We look forward to engaging with the public with an F-35A handling display at Mindil Beach and on the ground during the RAAF Base Darwin Open Day.” (Aus DoD)