The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) held a welcome and recognition ceremony on August 13 at Tejeros Hall here to honor the officers and enlisted personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) who participated in Exercise Pitch Black 2024.
The ceremony is seen as a fitting tribute to the PAF contingent’s exemplary performance in what was the largest and most intense iteration of the exercise in its 43-year history.
AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr and PAF Commanding General LtGen Stephen Parreño joined Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr and Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu in commending the PAF personnel for their outstanding representation of the Philippines on the global stage.
Exercise Pitch Black 2024, held in the skies over Australia’s Northern Territory, involved approximately 4,400 personnel and 140 aircraft from 20 nations, making it a key event in international air combat training.
For the first time, the Philippines participated in this prestigious exercise with both aircraft and personnel, deploying four FA-50PH Fighting Eagle jets along with 162 PAF members. The PAF contingent flew a total of 144 hours and 46 minutes across 61 sorties, participating in various high-intensity missions including Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM), Tactical Intercepts (TI), Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics (DACT), and Large Force Employment (LFE) missions. These missions focused on key operations such as air interdiction, suppression of enemy air defense, and both defensive and offensive counter-air roles.
“Our involvement in this multinational exercise is a testament to our commitment to elevating our air combat capabilities and aligning with global standards. It also reflects our dedication to being a reliable partner in ensuring peace and security not only within our region but also on a global scale,” Brawner stated.
He further underscored that the experience and knowledge gained from this exercise will be instrumental in the continued development of the AFP’s operational readiness and strategic defense initiatives. “As we continue to modernize our forces, participating in exercises like Pitch Black enables us to refine our tactics, enhance our interoperability with international forces, and fortify our role as a key player in upholding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
