SWANTON, Ohio — Residents near the 180th Fighter Wing base in Swanton should expect a week of elevated military activity starting April 20, as the Ohio National Guard conducts a large-scale Combat Readiness Inspection running through April 26.
The inspection is a comprehensive assessment of the wing’s ability to generate aircraft, rapidly deploy, and operate in contested environments. F-16 fighter jets will be taking off and landing at various times throughout the week as the wing conducts around-the-clock, 24-hour operations.
Residents living and working near the base can expect increased traffic, perimeter activity, and operational noise throughout the week. Perimeter operations may include drone and UAS activity, personnel movements, smoke, and fire. Residents may also hear loudspeakers, sirens, loud booms, and simulated gunfire as part of realistic training scenarios.
While training flights typically occur during daylight hours, pilots and maintenance personnel are required to conduct enhanced operations at all hours as part of their mission readiness requirements.
The wing has noted that due to the nature of the inspection, media opportunities will not be available during the event.