The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully concluded its participation in two international flight engagements, including Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia. Defence Ministry said that the dual-nation deployment underscored the IAF’s operational reach, advanced tactical coordination, and commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.

 

It added that during Exercise Pitch Black hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the IAF deployed its frontline Rafale aircraft to operate alongside Air Forces from over 20 participating nations. Executing complex Large Force Employment (LFE) missions in a high-threat, multi-domain environment, the exercise enabled seamless tactical integration, cross-learning, and enhanced interoperability among coalition partners.

 

Additionally, during Exercise Udara Shakti in Malaysia, IAF aircrew executed high-intensity combat sorties and joint tactical manoeuvres alongside the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The bilateral engagement focused on refining air combat tactics, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), and optimising combined operational flexibility.