PERSONNEL from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) have departed for Australia to take part in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest multinational air force exercises.
Pilots and technicians left Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby on Wednesday morning aboard two PNGDF aircraft, while additional personnel are scheduled to travel later in the day on a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft.
The deployment marks Papua New Guinea’s second participation in the biennial exercise after making its debut in 2024.
Exercise Pitch Black 2026 will bring together personnel from 20 nations, more than 100 aircraft and up to 2,500 participants for air combat and force integration training across Australia’s Northern Territory.
The exercise is designed to strengthen interoperability between participating nations and test operational readiness through realistic training scenarios. For PNGDF personnel, it also provides an opportunity to enhance their operational skills while working alongside regional and international partners.
The deployment follows the entry into force of the Pukpuk Treaty on 8 July 2026, under which Papua New Guinea and Australia formally elevated their defence relationship to an Alliance, creating a framework for deeper security cooperation.
During Exercise Pitch Black 2024, PNGDF personnel played a key role in supporting the response to an incident involving an international participant aircraft in a remote part of the Northern Territory, demonstrating their ability to operate effectively alongside other defence forces.
PNGDF Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Vavar said the exercise was the largest air force-focused training activity in the Southern Hemisphere and an important opportunity for the Air Transport Wing.
“We attended in 2024 and, here in 2026, I see a confident team going down for the exercise, which is a direct result of the partnership with the Defence Cooperation Program and, for the PNGDF Air Element specifically, the Flights of Excellence Program,” he said.
Defence Cooperation Program Senior Staff Officer Air, Wing Commander Shane Prior, said Papua New Guinea’s participation reflected the enduring defence partnership between the two countries.
“Training side by side, the PNGDF and ADF are enhancing our collective ability to work with partners to respond to challenges affecting our shared interests,” he said.