Exercise Pitch Black ’90

The aerial defence of northern Australia was once again tested during exercise Pitch Black 90 conducted from Darwin and Tindal RAAF Bases from 23rd to 27th July. The exercise was preceded by a short ‘working up period’ with visiting forces and a week of DACT (dissimilar air combat) training was conducted after the end of the exercise.

The defending forces (Blue Force”) comprised two McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet Squadrons. No. 75 flying from its home base Tindal and No. 3 Squadron temporarily operating from Darwin, as well as foxed Control and Reporting Units (CARUS) at Darwin and Port Keats whilst a number of mobile CARU’s maintained a changing air defence environment within the Darwin/ Port Keats/Tindal triangle. Support for the defenders was provided by Army and Naval units including HMAS Brisbane.

Testing these defending forces fell to ‘Orange Force’ which comprised aircraft categories ranging from the heaviest of bombers to light strike and the Army’s parachute forces inserted by the Lockheed C-130H Hercules of No. 36 Squadron.

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