The Indian Air Force has successfully concluded its participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia, demonstrating operational reach, tactical coordination, and commitment to strategic partnerships.
On August 22, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) concluded its participation in two significant international flight engagements: Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia. These dual-nation deployments underscored the IAF’s operational reach, advanced tactical coordination, and commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.
In Australia, the IAF deployed its frontline Rafale aircraft for Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exercise involved complex Large Force Employment (LFE) missions in a high-threat, multi-domain environment. This enabled seamless tactical integration, cross-learning, and enhanced interoperability among coalition partners.
Following the operations in Australia, the IAF contingent directly deployed to Subang, Malaysia, for Exercise Udara Shakti 2026. IAF aircrew executed high-intensity combat sorties and joint tactical manoeuvres alongside the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), flying with and against Su-30MKM and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. The bilateral engagement focused on refining air combat tactics, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), and optimizing combined operational flexibility.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
