ROKAF KF-16s Fly Nonstop to Australia's Pitch Black 2026

The Republic of Korea Air Force flew six KF-16 fighters 5,900 km nonstop from Seosan to Darwin — refueled in the air by two KC-330 tankers — to join Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia, demonstrating long-range reach without staging through a third country's air base. The roughly seven-and-a-half-hour flight carried about 100 personnel drawn from the 20th Fighter Wing in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, and the 38th Fighter Group in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province. The multinational drill is expected to involve some 110 aircraft from 16 countries, running through August 7 at air bases in Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory and Amberley in Queensland. This marks Korea's third participation with aircraft, having first sent KF-16s in 2022.