From 20 July until 28 August 2009, eight Swiss F/A-18s were stationed at Wittmund Air Base in Germany. During this period, the Swiss Hornets trained together with the local German F-4Fs and the A-4 Skyhawks operated by BAE Systems.

Live-firing exercise
The Swiss F/A-18s trained in firing AIM-9 Sidewinders at aerial targets. In addition to the live-firing exercises, dogfights over the North Sea were conducted between the F/A-18s, the local F-4F Phantoms, and the A-4 Skyhawks. Pilots from Fliegerstaffel 11 from Meiringen Air Base flew the F/A-18s to Wittmund and remained there until Friday, 7 August 2009. They returned home aboard a Swiss Beechcraft and were replaced the following Monday by pilots from Fliegerstaffel 17 from Payerne Air Base. On 28 August 2009, the Hornets returned to Switzerland.