17 countries are taking part in the Pitch Black defence force drills
Performing complex manoeuvres, international jets were captured on film refuelling mid-air before continuing their missions about the Territory. Watch the video and check out the gallery here.
Northern Territory
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Sharing knowledge, tactical skills and fuel mid-air, 17 countries worked together to strengthen ties in the Territory.
Integration week – a part of the biennial exercise Pitch Black – has started and 17 different nations’ aircraft are hard at work flying about 8000km in the Top End skies.
French Rafale jets and US Marine Corp F35Bs performed exercises mid air, working against and with each other while completing training scenarios.
For these complex exercises to be successfully carried out, they, in simple terms, need a servo in the sky to refuel while they soar about 800km/h.
This is where the refuelling plane RAF Voyager A330 and its refuelling pilot 101 Squadron Andy Brown plays an integral role in the operation.
“Just working with all of the Indo Pacific nations here is fantastic, we don’t normally get the opportunity to do that – its working a treat,” Pilot Brown said.
Once Pilot Brown releases the hose with intricate precision, jets will line up the refuelling pod and connect the knob that protrudes from the nose of their plane, receiving about 2000 to 4000 litres per minute.
Wednesday morning exercise was the first of many to be carried out in Top End skies this week.
With other nations scheduled to have their turn getting to know one another and learning how to effectively team up, RAF Flight Lieutenant Tom Nation said the exercise was about “ironing” out each nation’s differences.
“Fighter integration week is the first week of Pitch Back; all different nations getting together to learn how to fly with and against each other,” he said.
“(It is) quite a complex environment and everyone naturally has their own kind of nuances in the way that they do things, so it’s about ironing out those minor differences to become more effective.”
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