Fighter jets set to scramble for Top End war games

Fighter jets from around the world are poised to sharpen their skills in high‑tech war games at the Top End, with Exercise Pitch Black drawing up to 20 nations. The biennial event runs during the Northern Territory dry season from late May to September and culminates in a Pitch Black operation that tests interoperability among diverse air forces. Wing Commander Rowan Paice underscored the training’s importance for complex, high‑end warfare with air‑combat platforms. Aircraft will operate from RAAF Darwin and RAAF Tindal near Katherine, with community noise monitored and posted online. Open days and public flyovers are planned, and the prior edition (2024) involved about 4,500 troops from 20 countries, with one Italian aircraft crash reported but no fatalities.