Nigel Pittaway

No fewer than three nations deployed 5th generation F-35A Lightning II combat jets to the Top End for Exercises Southern Cross and Pitch Black, held in the relatively empty airspace of northern Australia in July and August | Nigel Pittaway

One of the realities of modern airpower is its reliance on the so-called ‘force multipliers’ for support | Nigel Pittaway

The Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) has deployed its 5th generation F-35A Lightning II fighters to Pitch Black 2026, Australia’s largest air combat exercise, for the first time | Nigel Pittaway

The Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) has deployed six Eurofighter Tifón (Typhoon) multi-role combat jets and an Airbus A400M tactical transport.

Billed as Australia’s premier air defence training exercise, the latest iteration of the Pitch Black series began in the vast and relatively empty skies of the Northern Territory last week.

Following on from their inaugural participation in Pitch Black 2024, the Philippine Air Force has returned for the 2026 event.

The 2026 ADM South Australia Defence Summit, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 7 July, underscored the state’s involvement in the creation of a sovereign naval shipbuilding and sustainment capability | Nigel Pittaway

The 2026 ADM South Australia Defence Summit, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 7 July, underscored the state’s involvement in the creation of a sovereign naval shipbuilding and sustainment capability | Nigel Pittaway

Defence documents are like buses; you can wait ages for one and then three come along at once | Nigel Pittaway

While attention has been directed recently to whether we will actually receive Virginia submarines, or when the contract for the Mogami frigates will be signed, the Navy’s other major shipbuilding undertaking has been quietly achieving its targets | Nigel Pittaway