Components for the Volanti aircraft will be manufactured at Quickstep’s Geelong facility, allowing Carbonix to initially fulfill an order from Anduril.

Behind the RAAF, the Republic of Singapore Air Force was the largest participant in the recent Pitch Black air combat exercise, sending no fewer than 18 aircraft to Darwin for the duration.

After an absence of many years, US Air Force F-15 Eagles have returned to the RAAF’s Pitch Black air combat exercise, held in the Northern Territory in August and September.

One of the most interesting aspects of the recent Pitch Black 2022 exercise in the Northern Territory was the proliferation of the Airbus Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

After several years’ absence, the United Kingdom participated in Australia’s premier air combat exercise in the Top End, Pitch Black 2022.

The Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters returned to the skies over the Northern Territory in August and September, flying daily missions in the RAAF’s Pitch Black 2022 air combat exercise.

Another Air Force making its debut at Australia’s Pitch Black air combat exercise this year was the Republic of Korea Air Force, which deployed six upgraded KF-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets and a single Airbus KC-330 Cygnus tanker.

The French Air Force concluded its Projection d’un dispositif aérien d’Envegure en Asia du Sud-Est (Projection of a large air force in Southeast Asia) mission with the return of three Dassault Rafale B fighter jets to France on September 18.

Embraer S.A. and L3Harris Technologies have announced a partnership to develop an “Agile Tanker”, a tactical aerial refuelling option designed to address the US Air Force’s joint force refuelling requirements.

Inadequate infrastructure may hinder Defence’s efforts to develop and retain a skilled civilian workforce at RAAF Tindal to support the introduction of the MQ-4C Triton, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works has been told.

The skies over the Northern Territory echoed to the sound of Japanese fighter aircraft for the first time since the Second World War in August and September, with the participation of 3 Squadron Japan Air Self Defense Force in Exercise Pitch Black.

The German Luftwaffe deployed combat aircraft to Australia for the very first time in late August, to participate in the multi-lateral Pitch Black air combat exercise.

Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from the United States Marines Corps’ Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12) in Iwakuni, Japan, deployed to RAAF Tindal in August to participate in Exercise Pitch Black.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has unveiled Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton autonomous aircraft during a ceremony at its high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft production site in California.

Pilots, Air Battle Managers and Engineer Officers from the Royal Air Force (RAF), United States Air Force (USAF) and US Navy have gained experience on the Royal Australian Air Force’s Boeing E-7A Wedgetail during exercise Pitch Black 2022.

The Boeing EA-18G Growlers of No.6 Squadron RAAF added an additional dimension to Pitch Black air combat exercise held in the relatively empty skies of the Northern Territory in August and September.