Load Diffuser Exercise

Photo by SSgt. Tina Maddock

Approximately 100 members of the 178th Fighter Wing, the Ohio Air National Guard F-16 unit at Springfield, arrived at Kecskemet, Hungary, in late April in support of Exercise Load Diffuser 2010. During this two-week joint exercise, US and Hungarian pilots trained together in air-to-air combat scenarios using 178th FW F-16, Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen and MiG-29 Fulcrum aircraft, as well as Hungarian Mi-24 Hind helicopters. Pilots from both forces worked with the Hungarian joint terminal air controllers to direct aircraft against simulated ground targets. Airmen from the 178th FW also educated aircraft maintainers from the Hungarian Air Force on F-16 maintenance operations.