IAF team heads back from Australia as Exercise Pitch Black concludes

Exercise Pitch Black 2018, which was being conducted in Australia's Darwin, was scheduled from July 24 to August 18, 2018.

Twitter photo/@IAF_MCC

New Delhi: As the flying operations for Exercise Pitch Black 2018 came to an end on Saturday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) team commenced preparations for de-induction. The IAF contingent is, currently, heading back to India, staging through Malaysia.

#ExPitchBlack18 : As the Flying Operations for Exercise Pitch Black 2018 comes to an end, the IAF team commenced preparation for de-induction.

IAF contingent is on the way to India staging through Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/YluB83zrxp

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 17, 2018

The IAF, meanwhile, released a video of the Pitch Black 2018 exercise. It tweeted saying, "# ExPitchBlack18: Making History... During the Ex. A team of IAF PJI's, Special Forces 'GARUDS' along with RAAF special forces, undertook Combat Free Fall from C-27J Spartan Aircraft. It's the first time that 'Team IAF' jumped in the Southern Hemisphere from a Foreign Aircraft."

#ExPitchBlack18 : Making History...
During the Ex. A team of IAF PJI's, Special Forces 'GARUDS' along with RAAF special forces, undertook Combat Free Fall from C-27J Spartan Aircraft.

It's the first time that 'Team IAF' jumped in the Southern Hemisphere from a Foreign Aircraft. pic.twitter.com/XCrsQ4n5CG — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 17, 2018

In another tweet, the IAF said, "Indian Air Force is all packed and ready to board the jets to head for the next destination, Malaysia. The big boys C-17 & C-130 and the fast jets bid adieu to 'down under' Australia."

#ExPitchBlack18 : Indian Air Force is all packed & ready to board the jets to head for the next destination, Malaysia.
The big boys C-17 & C-130 & the fast jets bid adieu to 'down under' Australia. pic.twitter.com/rJW6YkplVj — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 18, 2018

The IAF was invited for the first time to participate in Exercise Pitch Black - a biennial multi-national large force employment warfare exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). This exercise, which was being conducted in Australia's Darwin, was scheduled from July 24 to August 18, 2018.

Indian Air Force was undertaking simulated air combat exercises in a controlled environment and mutual exchange of best practices towards enhancing IAF operational capability said a press note released by PIB.

The participating Indian contingent in this three-week exercise consisted of 145 air-warriors, with 4x Su-30 MKI, 1x C-130, 1x C-17, Garud Commandos and observers with diverse specialisations.