Challenger Air Wing
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The Challenger Air Group originally comprised all squadrons deployed from the Star Destroyer Challenger. Since the incorporation of some squadrons into Rogue Group however, it now consists only of squadrons directly tasked with the defense of the Challenger and The Wheel, and any directly related squadrons.
Squadrons
The Interceptor elements of the Challenger Air Group are organised into Viper Group. This unit originally consisted of three separate A-Wing Squadrons: two flying the RZ-1 A-Wing Interceptor, and one flying the more advanced RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptor. Viper Group acts as the main Challenge-Intercept force for the Wheel, and provides Air Superiority via Combat Air Patrols for the Challenger and The Wheel, with support provided by Rogue Group.
Strike Fighter and Reconnaissance elements of the Air Group are collected as Raptor Squadron. The squadron operates BTL-S3 Y-Wing Starfighters that primarily provide Air Support during combat operations. Some of the squadron's Y-Wings are configured for recon; The Wheel will routinely leave a Raptor behind after each jump for several hours, in order to watch for pursuers.
The Training of new pilots - both Alliance and Jedi - is conducted by Talon Squadron. They operate a number of Z-95 Headhunters recently retrieved from the derelict Republic Cruiser Venture, several of which have been modified to approximate an X-Wing Starfighter.
With Jedi Starfighters now available on The Wheel, any Jedi flying these craft are organized into an irregular unit designated Knight Flight during combat situations. This designation is merely used for the distribution of callsigns, and serves no administrative purpose.
History
During the Clone Wars, the Challenger Air Group consisted of more than four hundred fighters and an assortment of shuttles and gunships. After the ship was extensively damaged during the Battle of Bothawui however, many of these ships had either been destroyed, or were reassigned to her sister ships from that battle.
After the Bothans purchased the salvage rights to the Challenger, the Air Group was replaced by an orbital contingent of the Bothan military's starfighter force. It also served as a training platform for fighter pilots attending the Bothan Military Academy.
After being donated to the Rebel Alliance and fully restored to operational specs, a new Air Group was formed using elements from the Fifth Fleet. The new Air Group was far smaller than the ship was capable of supporting, but her three A-Wing squadrons, two X-Wing squadrons, and Y-Wing squadron gave her a compliment that matched an Imperial Star Destroyer; the addition of Rogue Squadron made the Challenger Air Group particularly formidable.
Some time later the Challenger Air Group's squadrons of X-Wings were absorbed into the new Rogue Group. One of her A-Wing squadrons - Thunderbolt Squadron, the Alliance's elite A-Wing squadron - was reassigned to the Valiant alongside Valkyrie Squadron. Her remaining forces were reorganized into two units - Viper Group and Raptor Squadron - which operated A-Wings and Y-Wings respectively. An additional unit - Talon Squadron - was added for training purposes, employing several variants of the Z-95 Headhunter.
Members
| Commodore Vansen Tyree (Actual) | Human male from Rendili |
| Colonel Conrad Pressly (XO) | Human male |
Viper Squadron
| Captain Ryota Navarro ("Ironhide") | Sullust male from Sullust |
Talon Squadron
| Captain Jaden Luka ("Space Monkey") | Human male from Ord Varee |
