[REVISION HISTORY]

Indonesia's T‑50i role in Pitch Black 2026

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2026-08-23 07:30 UTC → 2026-08-23 08:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid‑July 2026, the Indonesian Air Force sent four T‑50i Golden Eagle trainers and a C‑130 Hercules from El Tari Air Base to Australia for Exercise Pitch Black, which runs 20 July–7 August. Before departure, the squadron held an open‑base event for local residents in Kupang. A week later, Korea Aerospace Industries delivered six more T‑50i aircraft, completing a USD 240 million contract and bringing Indonesia’s fleet to 22 jets. The delivery, part of a broader defence partnership that also includes work on the KF‑21 fighter, was followed by the immediate deployment of the new aircraft to the drill, marking the first appearance of Indonesia’s Golden Eagles at Pitch Black. The exercise hosts over 2,500 personnel from 21 nations, featuring first‑time Japanese F‑35s, Spanish A330 MRTT tankers, and a wide mix of regional air forces. Host RAAF officials highlighted the complex, jointly planned scenarios as a signal of shared commitment to regional peace, while analysts noted China’s absence. On 4 August, the chiefs of the Indonesian and Australian air forces flew together in a formation over Darwin—an Indonesian T‑50i alongside an RAAF F/A‑18 Hornet—underscoring operational trust and interoperability between the two services. Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono flew as a passenger in the T‑50i while Australian Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell piloted the Hornet. Exercise Pitch Black 2026 concluded on 7 August following three weeks of high-intensity training involving 100 aircraft. In addition to the Japanese F-35A Lightning II, the exercise featured the debut of Indian Air Force Rafale fighters testing long-range integration. Participating nations included 21 partners, including the United States, United Kingdom, and several Southeast Asian and European countries.

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