According to an AeroTime article published on August 6, 2026, Finland and Sweden dispatched official delegations to Exercise Pitch Black 26 for the first time, observing the exercise at RAAF Base Darwin. This marked the inaugural participation of the two Nordic nations in Australia’s premier multinational air combat exercise, which ran from July 20 to August 7 across northern Australia.
The Finnish delegation, led by Lieutenant Colonel Ville Uggeldahl of the Finnish Air Warfare Centre, focused on fighter capability integration, specifically how Australia coordinates fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft within a large-scale multinational setting and integrates command and control systems, fast jet platforms, and coalition partners.
The Swedish delegation, represented by Master Sergeant Ronny Hagman, an aircraft technician with the Swedish Air Force, concentrated on observing how the RAAF maintains its fleet of F/A-18F Super Hornets under the operational tempo of a major exercise, gaining insight into agile combat deployment and force posture.
In parallel, the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jet made its debut appearance at Exercise Pitch Black 26, as reported by AeroTime on August 7, 2026. The Rafale participated in high-tempo, low-visibility training scenarios, providing a rare opportunity to test the aircraft’s capabilities alongside a wide range of international partners.
Group Captain Arun Kumar, Commanding Officer of 101 Squadron and Exercise Director for the IAF at Pitch Black, noted that the deployment reflected the IAF’s growing ability to conduct long-range missions and operate effectively within a demanding multinational environment, and emphasized that the relationships built during the exercise are as valuable as the missions flown.
