By Thai Newsroom Reporters
AIR FORCE chief ACM Seksan Khantha is visiting Australia tomorrow (Aug.4) to view an international air combat exercise codenamed Pitch Black 2026.
Five upgraded, US-made F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon fighter jets, also known as the F-16 MLU Cobra, and 98 fighter pilots and air force men from Thailand’s Wing 4 in Takhli area of Nakhon Sawan province are participating in the Pitch Black 2026 exercise over northern Australia which started on July 20 and was scheduled to end on the upcoming Friday.
Assistant air force chief ACM Prapas Sonjaidee is accompanying ACM Seksan to see the joint air combat exercise held every other year and participated by air forces of the United States, United Kingdom. Spain, France, Germany and Sweden among a total of 21 allied and partner nations.
The Thai air force’s upgraded F-16 fighter jets based at Wing 4 are equipped with AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and state-of-the-art avionics systems and were reportedly combat-proven in last year’s armed conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces along disputed border lines alongside those of the same type of combat aircraft deployed at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima and Swedish-made Gripen C/D fighter jets based at Wing 7 in Surat Thani.
Thailand has planned to buy a squadron of eight Gripen E/F fighter jets for future deployment at Wing 1, the country’s largest air force base, in lieu of the F-16s which have been commissioned over the last three decades.
CAPTIONS:
First in slider: Aircraft take off for a night flying sortie at Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 26. Photo: Leading Aircraftman Jakob Reid
Other images in slider: ACM Seksan Kantha giving a motivational speech to 98 fighter pilots and air force men before their departure to Australia. Photos – Thai air force
Insert and Front Page: When the day ends, sheer power begins – Aircraft from Australia, US and India conducted a sortie as night flying commenced for Exercise Pitch Black 26 at Base Darwin, NT. Photo – Instagram
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