Strengthening defence ties across Indo-Pacific: IAF concludes exercises in Australia, Malaysia

The Indian Air Force concluded its participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia. The dual deployment showcased IAF’s operational reach, Rafale capabilities, tactical coordination and commitment to strengthening defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has successfully concluded its participation in two major international air exercises, Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia, in a dual-nation deployment that highlighted its operational reach, tactical capabilities and growing defence cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

“Indian Air Force successfully concluded its participation in two pivotal international flight engagements: Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia,” the Press Information Bureau said in a post on X. “The dual-nation deployment underscored the IAF’s operational reach, advanced tactical coordination, and commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region,” it added.

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The Ministry of Defence, in a press release, said the two exercises provided the IAF with opportunities to operate alongside partner air forces in demanding operational environments while strengthening interoperability and tactical coordination. During Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the IAF deployed its frontline Rafale fighter aircraft to participate alongside air forces from more than 20 countries.

The exercise involved complex Large Force Employment (LFE) missions conducted in a high-threat and multi-domain operational environment. The Ministry said the exercise enabled participating air forces to undertake seamless tactical integration while sharing operational experience and enhancing interoperability among coalition partners.

The deployment in Australia was followed by the IAF contingent’s direct movement to Subang, Malaysia, where it participated in Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). During the bilateral exercise, the IAF aircrew carried out high-intensity combat sorties and joint tactical manoeuvres alongside Malaysian aircraft, including Su-30MKM and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. The engagement focused on strengthening air combat tactics, facilitating subject matter expert exchanges and improving combined operational flexibility.

The Ministry of Defence said the exercises were not limited to flying operations. Cooperation extended beyond the cockpit to areas such as maintenance practices, mission planning and professional exchanges between personnel of the participating air forces. “Throughout both deployments, joint operations extended beyond the cockpit to include maintenance practices, mission planning exchanges, and cultural interactions,” the Ministry said, highlighting the broader scope of the engagements.

The interaction also helped strengthen professional camaraderie among personnel from the participating countries and provided opportunities for aircrew and support teams to learn from different operational procedures and practices. The IAF’s participation in the two exercises comes against the backdrop of India’s expanding defence engagement with partner countries across the Indo-Pacific.

Multinational air exercises provide an opportunity to test operational readiness, develop common procedures and improve coordination during complex missions. The Ministry of Defence said the dual-nation deployment demonstrated the IAF’s commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships while contributing to regional security and stability.

“Indian Air Force successfully concluded its participation in two pivotal international flight engagements,” the PIB said, noting that the deployment underscored the IAF’s operational reach and advanced tactical coordination. The exercises also reinforced the importance of regular joint training in maintaining combat preparedness and developing interoperability between partner air forces. The Indian Air Force remains committed to enhancing regional stability, fostering interoperability and advancing collaborative security initiatives through continued joint training engagements with air forces around the world, the Ministry of Defence said.