Papua New Guinea Air Force Enhances Defense Ties with Major War Games Participation

Papua New Guinea Air Force Enhances Defense Ties With Major War Games Participation

​Papua New Guinea’s Air Force has recently participated in the Pitch Black war games, a significant international defense exercise held in northern Australia. The air force joined 20 nations in this large-scale exercise, which featured advanced stealth fighter jets, including the U.S. F-22 Raptors and Australian Joint Strike Fighters.
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Major Randall Hepota, one of six Papua New Guinea pilots involved, highlighted the value of the exercise for their developing air force. “It is a learning experience for us as a small air force and it helps to build our air force,” Hepota said. The Papua New Guinea pilots flew three New Zealand-made P-750 turboprop aircraft, which are known for their capability to take off and land in short spaces, making them suitable for operations in challenging terrain.

Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Vavar, the commanding officer of the PNG Air Wing, noted that Pitch Black provides crucial exposure to top international pilots and aids in integrating with larger coalition forces. “We are becoming an air force. Flying in Papua New Guinea is a must,” Vavar remarked. He explained that air mobility is essential for reaching the country’s remote and mountainous regions, as demonstrated during the Enga landslide disaster in May when PNG’s aircraft proved crucial for aid delivery.

Throughout the Pitch Black exercises, PNG aircraft have been operating in remote locations such as Jabiru and RAAF Tindal Base, which is home to Australia’s F-35 fighter jets. The event also saw Australia's Governor General, Sam Mostyn, inspecting PNG’s aircraft at the RAAF Darwin base.

This collaboration comes amid a broader strategic context, as Papua New Guinea strengthens defense ties with Australia and the United States. The nation, also attracting attention from China, is viewed as a key ally in the Pacific region. Fiona Pearce, a senior Australian Defence Force officer at RAAF Tindal, emphasized the importance of the partnership: “Papua New Guinea is one of our key allies in the region. Their survival and our survival is interdependent.”

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