August 6, 2026 | 07:15 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The military air chiefs of Indonesia and Australia conducted a joint formation flight over Darwin on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, demonstrating defense ties during Exercise Pitch Black 2026.
Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) Chief of Staff Air Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono flew alongside Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Chief of Air Force (CAF) Air Marshal Stephen Chappell over Australia's Northern Territory.
Air Marshal Tonny flew as a passenger aboard a TNI AU T-50i Golden Eagle fighter jet piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Kurniadi Sukmo Djatmiko, Commander of Air Squadron 15, while Air Marshal Chappell flew in a parallel RAAF F/A-18 Hornet.
Defense officials confirmed that the airborne maneuver adhered to safety protocols and was completed without incident.
Air Marshal Tonny explained that the joint formation flight served to reinforce the longstanding relationship and operational trust between the two military forces.
"Formation flight is a simple symbol that holds profound meaning for the relationship between the two air forces," Tonny said in an official statement released by the TNI AU on Wednesday (August 5).
He noted that the exercise underscores both nations' commitment to regional stability and strategic interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.
The flight formed part of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, a multinational air combat training exercise hosted by Australia from July 20 to August 7.
The biennial drills bring together aircraft and military personnel from 20 nations.
Indonesia deployed four T-50i Golden Eagle jets and one C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to Australia for the exercise.
The Indonesian detachment departed from El Tari Air Base in Kupang on July 16 under the command of Air Marshal Somad, participating in tactical scenarios alongside allied air forces throughout the three-week exercise.
According to Air Marshall Somad, participation in the large-scale drills enables Indonesian fighter pilots to carry out joint operational tactics, tactical maneuvers and strategic scenarios alongside air defense teams from participating countries.
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