With the soft light of dawn illuminating the vast Northern Territory of Australia, the gentle rustle of eucalyptus leaves in the warm breeze, and the distant calls of kookaburras breaking the calm silence, another morning at Exercise Pitch Black 24 begins...

Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft taxied down the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson pavement and pulled up alongside F-22 Raptors outside the 525th Fighter Squadron’s kennels Oct. 26. A crowd of Airmen waited near heaters outside as the airplanes and crew chiefs performed their ritual dance of flap and...