Overview
- The Republic of Korea Air Force confirmed a contingent of about 100 personnel, six KF-16 fighters, three KC-330 tankers and three C-130 transports will take part in Exercise Pitch Black running through August 7.
- The six KF-16s are scheduled to depart Seosan on a roughly 5,900-kilometer nonstop flight that will rely on KC-330 aerial refueling and last about seven and a half hours.
- After arriving in Darwin the unit will complete local familiarization training before joining multinational missions such as air interdiction, defensive counter-air and aerial refueling with aircraft from 16 nations.
- The KC-330s and C-130s are central to the deployment because they enable nonstop long-range movement and sustainment of personnel and equipment for combined operations abroad.
- This marks South Korea’s third participation in Pitch Black since 2022 and demonstrates growing force-projection ability that could deepen operational ties with partners and improve combined response options in the region.