In February 2000, No. 78 Wing re-formed to take charge of all aircrew and technical training on the F/A-18 Hornet and the BAE Hawk 127. Headquartered at Williamtown, it comprised No. 76 Squadron at Williamtown and No. 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia, both operating Hawks, and No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (No. 2 OCU) at Williamtown, operating Hornets. Each of these units had previously been part of No. 81 Wing. No. 79 Squadron's role was to convert graduates of No. 2 Flying Training School at Pearce to fast jets, No. 76 Squadron's to conduct lead-in fighter courses, and No. 2 OCU's to convert pilots to the Hornet fighter. In February 2002, No. 78 Wing came under the control of the newly established Air Combat Group, formed by merging Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group. The merger expanded the wing's responsibilities, as it took on lead-in training for the General Dynamics F-111Cs of No. 82 Wing. In July 2003 a technical training and simulator unit, No. 278 Squadron, with detachments at RAAF Bases Amberley, Tindal and Pearce, was added to the wing's complement.