Spanish Air Force Concludes Participation in Pitch Black Exercise with Over 20 Countries and 6 Combat Aircraft

The Spanish Air and Space Force's Expeditionary Air Group has concluded its participation in the multinational Pitch Black 26 exercise in Australia, marking the end of a two-week advanced training period alongside allied and friendly air forces in the Indo-Pacific region.

The contingent of Spanish air power, consisting of Eurofighter fighter jets, A330 MRTT tanker aircraft, and A400M transport planes, has completed its return to Spanish territory on August 17, after a six-day journey and multiple stops. The group was formed by six Eurofighter jets from the 14th Wing at Albacete Air Base, two A400M aircraft from the 31st Wing at Zaragoza Air Base, and an A330 MRTT tanker from the 45th Wing at Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base, in addition to a support aircraft for the Expeditionary Air Group.

## Pitch Black 26 Exercise

The 2026 edition of the Pitch Black exercise took place between July 20 and August 7 in northern Australia, organized by the Royal Australian Air Force to conduct advanced training and enhance interoperability between air forces. The international exercise brought together more than 20 allied and partner countries, including Brunei, Canada, France, Fiji, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, and Spain.

The Spanish Air and Space Force's participation in the Pitch Black 26 exercise allowed the country to reaffirm its capabilities for strategic projection and integration into joint and combined structures with allied forces, using a flexible and adaptable expeditionary force.

The exercise saw the Spanish Air and Space Force's aircraft consolidate their training in various types of operations, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, with the integration of advanced procedures and the use of armament. The tanker and transport aircraft, including the A400M and A330 MRTT, strengthened their operational capabilities in areas such as cargo loading, in-flight refueling, unprepared runway landings, and strategic air projection.

The integration of personnel and equipment from the Expeditionary Air Group, the Support Unit for Air Deployments, the Logistics and Experimentation Center, and the Mobile Air Control Group ensured logistical and technical support for the Spanish contingent deployed in Australia, covering areas such as cargo preparation, unprepared field control, and comprehensive support for the operations conducted.

The Spanish Air and Space Force's participation in the Pitch Black 26 exercise has reaffirmed its capabilities for strategic projection and integration into joint and combined structures with allied forces, using a flexible and adaptable expeditionary force.

| Country | Aircraft | | --- | --- | | Spain | Eurofighter, A330 MRTT, A400M | | Australia | | | Brunei | | | Canada | | | France | | | Fiji | | | Finland | | | Germany | | | India | | | Indonesia | | | Japan | | | Malaysia | | | New Zealand | | | Papua New Guinea | | | Philippines | | | Republic of Korea | | | Sweden | | | Thailand | | | United Kingdom | | | United States | | | Singapore | |