International allies have strengthened airspace relations in a Pitch Black first
In a world first, the US, Germany and Australian Air Force chiefs took to the Darwin sky as part of Exercise Pitch Black. See the epic in-flight video here.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
International allies have taken to the Darwin sky as Australian Air Force’s Exercise Pitch Black welcomes new countries into the fold.
On Monday, German, US and Australian Air Force chiefs engaged in a formation exercise before inspecting the Euro Fighter.
It was the first time Germany had partaken in the international engagement activity, which includes 16 different countries and more than eight others as observers.
German Air Force Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz said the Indo-Pacific was becoming more important for Germany and the team had managed to deploy to Darwin in less than a day.
“We needed to do it in 24 hours in order to prove we can deploy in 24 hours from Germany to Asia,” he said.
“The airspace in Europe is having a war in front of our home door in Ukraine. We are doing air policing in Europe, at the same time we are flying one of the biggest integrator exercises here.”
US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach said it was a beautiful morning to fly over Darwin.
“It was great to have the Euro fighter, EA-18G Growler and Raptor in the air together,” he said.
However, General Wilsbach said while the three in the air on Monday believed in a “free and open” Indo Pacific, not all countries shared that vision.
“The main idea behind our strategy in the Indo Pacific is to work with allies and partners; Pitch Black represents a perfect place for our air forces to get together and to train together and to become interoperable,” he said.
The exercise was described as a “show of strength” by Australian Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Rob Chipman.
“The more that we work together, the more that we show how strong airpower is by ... building offering interoperability and strengthening partnerships in our regions,” he said.
“The better off we are to have a safe and free Indo Pacific so the purpose of this exercise is to strengthen partnerships for the betterment of our region, as well.”
Pitch Black 2022 continues until September 8.
Wild scenes in Top End town after terrified woman woken by intruders
There were wild scenes in a Top End town early Sunday morning after police received a triple-0 call from a terrified women who was woken by a male intruder in her bedroom.
Man loses car while shutting his gate
A man closing his gate lost his car Saturday afternoon when four offenders allegedly took off in it.