[Edaily Reporter kim kwanyong ] The Republic of Korea Air Force participated in the multinational joint air exercise “Pitch Black 2026” held in Australia, conducting realistic joint air operations alongside the air forces of 16 countries, including the United States, Japan, Germany, and India.

The Air Force announced on the 4th, “We are conducting joint air operations with six KF-16 fighter jets and approximately 100 personnel at the ‘Pitch Black 2026’ exercise, which has been underway at Darwin Air Base in Australia since the 17th of last month and will continue through the 7th of this month.”

Organized by the Royal Australian Air Force, Pitch Black is a large-scale multinational joint air exercise; this year, 16 countries—including South Korea, the United States, Japan, Spain, Germany, and India—are participating.

After completing acclimatization training, the South Korean Air Force began the main exercise on the 27th of last month. Operating six KF-16 fighter jets, they are carrying out various joint formation missions, including Air Interdiction (AI) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA).

The exercises were conducted both day and night. South Korean Air Force pilots formed mixed formations with fighter jets from various nations, flying a total of 62 sorties and enhancing their ability to conduct joint operations in complex battlefield environments.

During the exercise, they conducted air-to-air engagements in response to simulated air threats, as well as missions to defend key facilities and friendly forces. Maintenance personnel also supported aircraft sorties around the clock, conducting thorough pre- and post-flight inspections to ensure safe mission execution.

Notably, the Mission Planning Cell (MPC)—the core of multinational joint air operations—operated 24 hours a day throughout the exercise. The MPC is responsible for planning and coordinating detailed missions for the joint task force, which integrates the assets of participating nations, as well as analyzing and evaluating the mission capabilities of each nation’s forces.

During this exercise, the ROK Air Force not only handled mission planning but also served twice as the Mission Commander (MC), who directs the entire joint operation. The ROK Air Force reported that Captain Na Hyung-shin, who served as the first Mission Commander on the 29th of last month, successfully led a combined force of approximately 30 aircraft from seven nations, earning high praise from participating nations.

Prior to the main exercise, on the 20th of last month, a South Korean Air Force KF-16 formation and an Australian Air Force F-35A formation conducted a goodwill flight, reaffirming the commitment to cooperation between the two air forces.

Air Force Air Combat Commander Chae Woon-ki said, “I commend the hard work of our service members who are dedicating themselves to enhancing the nation’s prestige by demonstrating the Republic of Korea Air Force’s outstanding joint operational capabilities in a distant land,” adding, “I hope they will prioritize safety above all else, perfectly execute their assigned missions, and bring the exercise to a successful conclusion.”