Airmen deploy to Hungary for bilateral training exercise

by Staff Sgt. Tina Maddock
Ohio Air National Guard Public Affairs

5/3/2010 - KECSKEMET, Hungary (AFNS) -- Approximately 100 members of the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Fighter Wing from Springfield, Ohio, arrived here April 22 through 27 in support of the Load Diffuser Exercise 2010.

This is a joint exercise with the Hungarian Joint Force Command. The exercise aims to sharpen the combat capabilities of the participating forces.

Air Force pilots and Hungarian air force pilots are training together in air-to-air combat scenarios using the Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, Hungarian air force JAS-39 Gripen, MiG-29 Fulcrum and the Mi-24 Hind aircraft.

"It is one of the few training opportunities (the Hungarian air force) have to fly against a larger formation," said Lt. Col. Nathan Thomas, the exercise's project officer. "It is to help improve their skills and a way to improve ours."

U.S. Air Force and Hungarian air force pilots are working with the Hungarian joint terminal air controllers to direct aircraft against simulated ground targets, Colonel Thomas said. The Hungarian JTACs were trained in the United States.

The Hungarian Mi-24 helicopters are working with the U.S. and Hungarian airmen to conduct ground-base air defense exercises, Colonel Thomas said.

In addition to practicing air combat maneuvers against the F-16, Hungarian airmen are training to work with the F-16. Airmen from the 178th FW are educating aircraft maintainers from the Hungarian air force on F-16 maintenance operation.\

The exercise is scheduled to last two weeks.