17 August. More than 2,200 personnel along with 100 aircraft belonging to Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the United States participated in the exercise. It was the first time for Indonesia to participate in the exercise. The Indonesian Air Force sent four Sukhoi Flanker fighters, two Su-27s and two Su-30s. 2014 The 2014 exercise ran from 4 August to 22 August 2014. Up to 110 aircraft from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States participated. 2016 The 2016 exercise ran from 29 July to 19 August. Up to 115 aircraft and 2,500 personnel from the armed forces of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the United States participated. 2018 The 2018 exercise ran from 27 July to 17 August. Participating countries included Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. The Indian Air Force took part in the exercise for the first time. 131 aircraft were involved and almost 4,000 personnel. 2022 The 2022 exercise ran from 19 August to 8 September with 17 participating countries, namely Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This was the first Pitch Black in nearly four years, due to COVID-19, with over 2500 military personnel attending the exercise. References Royal Australian Air Force education and training Australian military exercises Military aviation exercises Military exercises involving the United States