95th Fighter Squadron and Fighter Generation Squadron sharpen combat readiness with advanced threat training at Ready Tiger 26-3

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Airmen and F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 95th Fighter Squadron and 95th Fighter Generation Squadron deployed to Savannah Air National Guard Base from April 13–17 for Ready Tiger 26-3, an exercise focused on rapid deployment, sustainment and airpower generation in austere, contested environments.

Across the week, pilots, intelligence specialists and maintainers launched sorties designed to detect and defeat low‑observable aerial threats that mimicked drone attacks, a scenario aimed at sharpening crews’ ability to operate under hazardous conditions and improve survivability and effectiveness.

“Low-observable planes are very hard to detect with radar,” said Maj. Heath Williams, 95th FS chief of operations group standardization and evaluations. “The best way to overcome the challenge is practice and repetition.”

While drones are slower than the F-35A and fly at lower altitudes, they can be difficult to spot, demanding precise sensor employment and tight coordination across the formation. Williams said a central focus was translating frontline pilots’ sensor‑setting recommendations into the F‑35A’s systems to improve the aircraft’s ability to find and fix such targets.

Throughout the exercise, Airmen integrated with Marine Corps F-35B units operating from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina, sharing lessons learned across the F-35 enterprise. The joint work refined tactics, sharpened targeting processes and strengthened interoperability between dispersed formations, helping teams anticipate and manage communication friction associated with deployed operations.

“It brings in a level of difficulty because we are not physically across the table from one another,” Williams said. “But when we get out there, there is a level of understanding … so, we are at least on the same operating page and common thought process on how to mitigate these drones.”

Exercise leaders said the collaboration underscores a broader push to ensure Air Force, Marine Corps and other services can align quickly on common procedures and execute together under pressure.

“When you bring another formation from the Marines, Navy or whoever … we are able to essentially just hit play and execute the tactics that are recommended,” Williams said.