DARWIN, Australia - A total of 140 aircraft and more than 4,400 personnel from 20 countries have gathered in northern Australia for Exercise Pitch Black, a multinational air combat exercise that takes place every two years.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has sent 450 personnel to Australia for the 2024 edition of the exercise, which makes it one of the largest foreign contingents after host Australia. 

RSAF assets taking part in the exercise comprise four F-15SGs, six F-16C/Ds, one G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft, and one A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

The air force has also sent some of its ground-based air defence systems, with its Shikra radar, Multi-Mission Radar, Aster 30 and Spyder systems also participating in this year’s exercise.

The RSAF contingent is led by exercise director Colonel (COL) Lee Mei Yi, who said Singapore’s participation is important as it enhances the air force’s interoperability with international partners while honing its operational competencies.

The RSAF’s interactions with participating F-35s there would also help it better understand operations with the stealth fighter ahead of flying its own F-35As and F-35Bs, said Col Lee, the Republic’s first female exercise director at Exercise Pitch Black.

The Republic is expected to take delivery of its first four F-35Bs in 2026, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said at his ministry’s Budge...