378th Air Expeditionary Wing
A provisional United States Air Forces Central expeditionary wing responsible for sustaining and defending forces and projecting combat airpower from Prince Sultan Air Base.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Forces Central unit based at Prince Sultan Air Base near Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Unlike a commercial brand, it is an operational military organization whose designation identifies an expeditionary command structure that can be activated, expanded, reduced, or inactivated according to United States Central Command requirements. Its principal role is to sustain and defend joint and partner forces at Prince Sultan Air Base while supporting theater air operations and the rapid generation of combat power. The unit traces its lineage to the 378th Bombardment Group, constituted during the Second World War in October 1942. The group was activated at Langley Field, Virginia, under the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command. Although designated a medium bombardment group, it operated Douglas O-46 and North American O-47 observation aircraft rather than conventional medium bombers. Its squadrons were dispersed along the southeastern Atlantic coast, with elements operating from Langley Field, Jacksonville Municipal Airport, Charleston Army Air Field, and later Lantana Airport. The group participated in the coastal antisubmarine campaign, but the Army Air Forces reorganized its antisubmarine forces before the end of 1942. The group was consequently inactivated in December, and its squadrons were reassigned or placed under antisubmarine wings. The lineage returned to active operational use in the twenty-first century. On 24 October 2005, the designation was converted to provisional status as the 378th Air Expeditionary Group. In 2019, the United States began reopening and expanding Prince Sultan Air Base to support regional operations. A contingency response force from the 621st Contingency Response Group arrived in June 2019 and helped restore the base for fighter operations. The 378th Air Expeditionary Group assumed responsibility for managing the installation on 2 August 2019 after the contingency response mission began to wind down. The organization was redesignated as the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing on 14 November 2019 and formally activated at the base on 17 December 2019. The wing received its first combat aircraft soon afterward. F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived in early January 2020, followed by F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in February. Regional tensions and changing deployment requirements produced a succession of rotational forces, including F-15C Eagles, Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier IIs, and F-16C aircraft. The COVID-19 pandemic altered at least one planned redeployment schedule. The wing has also supported short-duration Agile Combat Employment activities involving F-35A Lightning IIs, E-8 Joint STARS, and E-3 Sentry aircraft, demonstrating the ability to receive and support different types of combat and command-and-control aircraft on short notice. Its support structure includes expeditionary operations, maintenance, mission support, civil engineering, communications, contracting, logistics, security forces, medical, and force-support organizations. Associated deployments have included fighter, electronic-combat, airborne early-warning, and aerial-refueling units. The wing therefore functions less as a fixed fleet operator than as an adaptable host and command framework for expeditionary airpower. Its present identity is closely associated with the defense, development, and operational use of Prince Sultan Air Base in support of United States and partner-force missions in the region.
History
The unit's lineage began with the 378th Bombardment Group, constituted in October 1942 and activated at Langley Field, Virginia. Assigned to the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, it operated observation aircraft along the southeastern Atlantic coast during the antisubmarine campaign. Its headquarters and squadrons were distributed among several coastal airfields. Reorganization of the antisubmarine command led to the reassignment of its squadrons and the group's inactivation in December 1942, after less than two months of active service. The designation was revived in provisional form in 2005 as the 378th Air Expeditionary Group. Its modern operational history began in 2019, when United States forces reopened and developed Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Personnel from the 621st Contingency Response Group arrived in June to prepare the installation for fighter operations. The 378th group was activated on 2 August and assumed responsibility for base management as the contingency-response mission was reduced. It was redesignated the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing on 14 November and formally activated on 17 December 2019. From early 2020 onward, the wing supported a succession of expeditionary aviation deployments. F-15E Strike Eagles arrived in January, followed by F-16 aircraft in February. Later rotations included F-15C Eagles, AV-8B Harrier IIs operated by the United States Marine Corps, and F-16C Fighting Falcons. The COVID-19 pandemic affected planned movement schedules. The wing also supported Agile Combat Employment demonstrations using aircraft with different combat, surveillance, command-and-control, and support roles. Its subordinate structure has included operations, maintenance, mission-support, engineering, communications, contracting, logistics, security, medical, and force-support organizations. The wing remains associated with Prince Sultan Air Base and the broader effort to sustain and defend regional expeditionary air operations.
- 2020
Expanded combat-aircraft rotations
[1]The wing supported successive F-15, F-16, and AV-8B deployments and adjusted schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Activated at Prince Sultan Air Base
[1]The 378th group was activated in August to manage the reopened Saudi Arabian air base.
- 2019
Redesignated as an air expeditionary wing
[1]The organization became the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing in November and was formally activated in December.
- 2005
Converted to provisional expeditionary status
[1]The designation was converted to the provisional 378th Air Expeditionary Group.
- 1942
378th Bombardment Group constituted and activated
[1]The lineage began when the 378th Bombardment Group was constituted in October and activated at Langley Field in December under the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command.
- 1942
World War II antisubmarine operations
[1]The group and its dispersed squadrons conducted coastal antisubmarine activities using observation aircraft before the organization was inactivated in December.
Products and positioning
An adaptable United States Air Force expeditionary headquarters and airbase-support organization positioned to sustain joint and partner forces and rapidly integrate diverse combat aircraft in the United States Central Command region.
Military operations · 2019
Expeditionary airbase operations
The wing provides the command and support framework required to operate Prince Sultan Air Base, including installation management, logistics, communications, engineering, security, medical care, and force support. Its purpose is to make the base usable and sustainable for deployed United States and partner-force units rather than to sell or manufacture a commercial product.
Air operations · 2019
Combat airpower integration
The wing integrates rotating fighter and supporting aviation units into the theater force structure. Aircraft associated with its operations have included F-15E and F-15C Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, AV-8B Harrier IIs, E-3 Sentry aircraft, E-11A BACN aircraft, and KC-10A Extenders.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Prince Sultan Air Base reopening and buildup
Saudi Arabia
A contingency response force prepared Prince Sultan Air Base for renewed fighter operations, after which the 378th Air Expeditionary Group and later wing assumed responsibility for sustaining the installation.
Outcome. The base became an operating location for rotational combat and support aircraft.
- Agile Combat Employment exercises
United States Central Command area of responsibility
The wing supported shorter-duration exercises intended to demonstrate rapid increases in the number and variety of aircraft that could operate from Prince Sultan Air Base.
Outcome. The activities demonstrated the wing's role as an adaptable host for diverse expeditionary aviation forces.
Brand decisions
2019
Assume management of Prince Sultan Air BaseStrategyBackground
The 621st Contingency Response Group had helped reopen the base, but its mission was being reduced as a longer-term expeditionary organization was established.
Action taken
The 378th Air Expeditionary Group was activated in August 2019 and took over base-management responsibilities before becoming a wing.
Aftermath
The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing became the enduring United States Air Force organizational presence at the installation.
2019
Convert the expeditionary group into a wingStrategyBackground
The expanding base mission required a larger command structure capable of coordinating operations, maintenance, mission support, medical, and installation functions.
Action taken
The organization was redesignated as the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing on 14 November and formally activated in December.
Aftermath
The wing supported multiple aviation rotations and broader regional airpower missions.
Recent events
- 2020
F-15E Strike Eagles arrive at Prince Sultan Air Base[1]
Product generation · Other
F-15E aircraft from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron became the wing's first identified combat-aircraft deployment after its activation.
- 2020
Fighter and Marine aviation rotations change at Prince Sultan Air Base[1]
Other
F-16, F-15C, and Marine AV-8B units rotated through the base during 2020, reflecting changing regional operational requirements.
- 2019
378th Air Expeditionary Group activated at Prince Sultan Air Base[1]
Other
The provisional 378th Air Expeditionary Group assumed management responsibilities at Prince Sultan Air Base after a contingency response force helped reopen the installation for fighter operations.
- 2019
378th Air Expeditionary Wing formally activated in Saudi Arabia[1]
Leadership change · Other
The organization was redesignated as a wing in November and formally activated at Prince Sultan Air Base in December amid heightened regional tensions.
378th unit supports Agile Combat Employment exercises[1]
Campaign · Other
The wing hosted or supported short-duration activities involving aircraft such as the F-35A, E-8 Joint STARS, and E-3 Sentry to demonstrate rapid expansion of combat-aircraft capacity.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/378th-air-expeditionary-wing · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled