An IL-78 air-to-air refuelling aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) operated from Juanda Airport, Surabaya on Friday, 17 July to conduct mid-air refuelling of IAF Rafale fighter jets transiting Indonesian airspace, as the aircraft headed to Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026. The operation, carried out with the explicit permission of the Government of Indonesia, underscores the deepening strategic and defence relationship between New Delhi and Jakarta.

India's Contingent Arrives in Darwin

The IAF contingent — comprising four Rafale fighter jets, two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, and over 120 Air Warriors — touched down in Darwin on Friday. The deployment marks India's participation in the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) premier multinational air combat exercise, Pitch Black 2026.

The High Commission of India in Canberra confirmed the arrival in a post on X, stating the contingent would spend the next three weeks flying alongside counterparts from participating nations to 'enhance interoperability, sharpen combat flying skills, strengthen relationships, and build everlasting bonds.'

Indonesia's Role and India's Gratitude

The Indian Embassy in Jakarta acknowledged Indonesia's cooperation in a post on X, thanking the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for 'allowing Indian military platforms to operate from Indonesia.' The use of Juanda Airport as a refuelling base for the IL-78 was a critical logistics enabler for the long-range deployment.

Notably, earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft was escorted by Indonesian Air Force jets during his arrival and departure from Indonesian airspace — a rare diplomatic honour that signalled the elevated warmth in bilateral ties.

BrahMos, Astra and the Broader Defence Partnership

The mid-air refuelling operation comes against a backdrop of rapidly expanding India-Indonesia defence cooperation. During PM Modi's visit to Jakarta, the two nations signed an agreement for the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Indonesian military. Indonesia is also set to import India's indigenously developed Astra air-to-air missiles, and additional batteries of the BrahMos system are reportedly under consideration.

What Pitch Black 2026 Means for India

Exercise Pitch Black is one of the Indo-Pacific's largest and most complex air combat exercises, hosted biennially by the RAAF. India's participation with frontline Rafale jets — and the logistics chain that now includes Indonesian basing support — signals a maturing of India's power-projection capability in the region. The deployment reflects India's broader Act East policy and its growing role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

Over the coming three weeks, IAF pilots will engage in complex multi-nation air combat scenarios alongside air forces from across the region, with interoperability and combat readiness as the stated objectives.