India, July 20 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) starts Exercise Pitch Black 2026 on Monday at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin. Scheduled from July 20 to August 7, Exercise Pitch Black is the RAAF's premier biennial multinational air combat exercise, defence ministry said here on Sunday.

The exercise derives its name from its emphasis on night flying over the vast, unpopulated areas of northern Australia. In the exercise's 45-year-long history, this edition features a large number of participating forces, bringing together military personnel for complex large force employment and multinational air combat operations.

The IAF contingent comprises highly skilled Air Warriors, including pilots, engineers, technicians, controll...