Photo By Tech. Sgt. DAnn Kennedy | An A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on the ramp during Exercise Trojan Cheddar at the Volk...... read more read more
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Active duty and Reserve pilots from the 442d Fighter Wing and the 358th Fighter Squadron conducted advanced aerial combat and integration training during Exercise Trojan Cheddar at the Volk complex from March 31 to April 2.
The detachment of 11 pilots included six active duty pilots from the 358th FS and five Reserve pilots from the 442d FW. The team deployed with five A-10 Thunderbolt IIs to execute full mission profiles designed to integrate with 4th and 5th generation aircraft in a contested environment.
Throughout the three day exercise, the team flew four planned flight periods, or "goes," with F-35 Lightning IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons. While five A-10s deployed to the exercise, four of those jets flew in each flight period. The planned exercise airspace at the Volk complex integrated four F-35s, two friendly F-16s, and two F-16s acting as adversary air.
A key focus of the training involved bridging the A-10 data link with the F-35 and F-16 networks. This digital integration allowed the pilots to share tactical data and utilize the A-10’s integrated weapons systems to enhance joint targeting processes across the battlespace.
With this connectivity, the pilots flew sorties focused on Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Dynamic Targeting (DT), specifically practicing the destruction of simulated surface to air missile systems and ballistic missile threats.
The detachment also provided the other participating platforms with initial on scene command training for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations, teaching the utilization of basic "Sandy" checklists to coordinate rescue efforts.
To round out the tactical training, the pilots flew dissimilar Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) and Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM), practicing close range, air to air combat against the F-16s and F-35s.
By blending active duty and Reserve expertise across SEAD, DT, CSAR, and BFM mission sets, the joint training during Exercise Trojan Cheddar successfully bolstered the readiness, digital interoperability, and lethality of both the 442d FW and the 358th FS.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2026 11:51 |
| Story ID: | 571963 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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