Finland and Sweden took part for the first time as observers at the Australian air exercise Pitch Black. According to the Australian Department of Defence, the visit was used to exchange experiences on fighter aircraft operations, exercise management and maintenance.
According to a press release from the Australian Department of Defence, Finland and Sweden participated for the first time in the international air exercise Exercise Pitch Black, which is being held in northern Australia between 20 July and 7 August.
The Finnish delegation focused on how the Royal Australian Air Force integrates fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft in a multinational exercise. According to the press release, the experience is particularly relevant as the Finnish Air Force introduces the F-35A.
"It's an honour to be here. We are very keen to see how the integration of fighter aircraft is planned and carried out, especially with so many participating nations," says Lieutenant Colonel Ville Uggeldahl, Head of the Air Warfare Centre, in the Australian Department of Defence's press release.
The Swedish delegation instead studied how the Royal Australian Air Force organises maintenance and logistics for fighter aircraft under exercise conditions. According to aircraft technician Ronny Hagman, the experience was particularly valuable for developing the ability to conduct dispersed air operations.
"We can benefit from learning how to group forces and carry out agile air operations back home. This is a fantastic exercise for me," he says in the press release.
The Australian Department of Defence also describes Finland's and Sweden's participation as an expression of growing cooperation between like-minded air forces in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.