All in a day's work

One by one, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) F-15SGs and F-16C/Ds took to the night sky in quick succession to join other international air assets. More than 80 fighter aircraft were combating one another in a fierce contest in Australian airspace.

Held from 29 Jul to 19 Aug in Darwin, Australia, the multinational air combat exercise organised by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) included the air forces of Australia, Canada, Germany, Thailand and the United States (US).

The biennial exercise saw aerial assets participating in air-to-air combat as well as air-to-ground and ground-to-air attacks against simulated threats in a tough training environment under both day and night conditions. Some of the challenges included orchestrating multi-axis attacks and working alongside international fighters in pitch black skies.

The RSAF deployed eight F-15SGs, six F-16C/Ds, a Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW) aircraft and a KC-135R air-to-air refuelling tanker. In addition, two I-Hawk Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems and an Agile Multiple Beam (AMB) radar were reintroduced after a 10-year hiatus from the exercise.

PIONEER takes you through the RSAF's operations at Exercise Pitch Black in pictures.