Kimberley skies play host to international war games in Exercise Pitch Black

The airspace above Australia’s North West looked like a scene out of Top Gun last week with air force mavericks from 16 different nations playing war games in our northern skies. Training operations were conducted over Derby from August 22 to 25 with up to 18 aircraft flying out of RAAF Base Curtin in support of Exercise Pitch Black. More than 100 aircraft and 2500 personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE, the US and the UK, took part in the exercise. Derby locals were treated to a flying display by F-35 and F-35A Lightening II, the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft, on August 24. There was also a community open day at the Derby Turf Club on August 28 to meet the team behind Pitch Black and see the equipment they use. Exercise Commander, Air Commodore Tim Alsop said the return of Exercise Pitch Black marked an excellent opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and promote regional stability. “With 16 nations participating, Exercise Pitch Black is an excellent opportunity for RAAF to work with our allies and partners, sharing tactics and procedures that will enhance interoperability between our forces,” he said. It comes as WA’s Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia said in parliament on August 18 that WA’s north had been neglected and left “under-defended”, reiterating comments he made on August 3. “It is undeniable that Western Australia is under-defended,” he said. “We have less than five per cent of Australian Defence Force personnel posted to Western Australia, which is the lowest proportion anywhere in the country other than Tasmania, and I do not think it is under any threat from the penguins in Antarctica. “It is time that the ADF looked at moving more soldiers, capability and fighting capability of the Army and the Air Force to Western Australia.” As tensions between China, Australia and it’s allies escalate, there has been a growing push from all levels of government to shore up defence in the region. On August 3 the Federal Government announced a strategic force posture review into the Australian Defence Force which Mr Papalia welcomed. Local government councillors across the Pilbara and Kimberley have also expressed their concerns, going as far as to establish the North West Defence Alliance to lobby the Federal Government for more defence assets in the region. North West Defence Alliance spokesperson Geoff Haerewa said it was “about time” the ADF conducted the strategic review. His concerns were echoed by City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long who, when speaking to the Pilbara News recently, said there was $200 billion in exports in the Pilbara defended by 30 personnel. Exercise Pitch Black started on August 19 and will conclude on September 8.