Image: Australia DoD ©
The Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighters have flown at Exercise Pitch Black for the first time, marking a milestone for the service’s frontline multirole jet.
The deployment saw India’s most advanced fighter integrate into high-tempo, low-visibility scenarios alongside multinational partners in northern Australia. It gave the IAF a rare chance to test the Rafale’s capabilities within a coalition environment and align its warfighting approach with allied forces.
GPCAPT Arun Kumar, Commanding Officer of 101 Squadron and IAF Exercise Director at Pitch Black, commented that confirmation of the deployment generated strong enthusiasm across the unit. “There was a great sense of pride and enthusiasm across the entire contingent when their participation was confirmed,” he commented. He added that aircrew, engineers and support staff all recognised the significance of representing India and the IAF on the international stage.
GPCAPT Kumar said the exercise delivered more than flying hours and successful sorties. He added that relationships built on the ground carried equal weight to the missions flown overhead, reinforcing partnerships with like-minded nations and supporting a stable, secure Indo-Pacific.
The Rafale forms the backbone of India’s air combat capability, and its Pitch Black debut demonstrated the jet’s ability to operate seamlessly with international partners. The deployment also underlined the IAF’s growing capacity for long-range operations and complex multinational missions.
GPCAPT Kumar thanked the Royal Australian Air Force for hosting the exercise, commenting: “We sincerely thank the RAAF for providing the right air-battle environment, being the perfect host and coordinating such a large-scale, complex event flawlessly.”
Learn more on the Australian Air Force website
