By Kat Wong in Canberra

Thousands of military personnel from across the world will be put to the test as concerns grow over maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

From Friday, 140 aircraft will fill the Northern Territory skies for three weeks as part of biennial international air combat activity Exercise Pitch Black.

With 4000 personnel from 20 nations taking part, the 2024 event will be the biggest in its 43-year history.

Participants will be exposed to complex scenarios while operating advanced machinery and battlespace systems, which exercise director Peter Robinson says will help build stronger ties with like-minded nations.

“Training with our partner nations throughout Exercise Pitch Black demonstrates our commitment to the shared value of sustaining peace and stability across the region,” Air Commodore Robinson said.

For the Philippines, Spain, Italy and Papua New Guinea, it will be the first time their personnel and aircraft participate.

They will be joined by aircraft from France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand the UK and the US, alongside embedded personnel from Canada, NZ, Fiji and Brunei.

The exercise will be held as China continues its military movements against the backdrop of a NATO summit where the Indo-Pacific remains a key focus.

Taiwan’s defence ministry on Thursday said it had detected 66 Chinese military aircraft around the island in the previous 24 hours and claimed China had been using “grey zone” tactics that stop short of actual combat to test and pressure Taiwanese forces.

In Washington, NATO members and allies painted Russia and China as the sources of security concerns in a final communique released on Wednesday US time.

But Beijing has accused the alliance of overreaching and inciting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.

Italian Air Force chief of staff Luca Goretti emphasised the importance of Exercise Pitch Black as a new challenge that would strengthen operations in the region.

“We are going to Australia for Pitch Black 2024, together with our Italian Navy colleagues, in the sign of a strong friendship and collaboration that has now lasted for some years… and we do all this while always remaining able to ensure and maintain both national and NATO commitments,” he said.

For the Philippine Air Force, the exercise is its first overseas deployment in six decades for combat practice.

–with Reuters and AP