The oldest U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron, VAQ-130 Zappers, flies the EA-18G Growler
Called “VAQ-130 Zappers Cruise 2016,” the following cool video is probably the best EA-18G Growler footage you have ever seen so far.
The clip contains six chapters and was recorded during the unit’s most recent deployment as a component of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).
– Intro/History of the Zappers
– OIR/Welcome to Ready One
– Rocky
– Continuous Thunder
– Holidays/Coming Home
– End Credits
The United States Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), popularly referred to as the “Zappers,” is an EA-18G Growler squadron stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island. The oldest electronic attack squadron in the US Navy is VAQ-130.
The combat-tested F/A-18F Super Hornet is available in an airborne electronic attack derivative called the EA-18G Growler, as we’ve already mentioned.
The aircraft can carry out a variety of tasks thanks to its cutting-edge sensors and weapons, such as Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), Stand-off and Escort Jamming (where the Growler not only flies the conventional stand-off jamming mission but also provides the escort for other air assets thanks to the speed and agility inherited from the Super Hornet), and Non-Traditional Electronic Attack (the EA-18G can carry out this task where thanks to its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array [AESA] radar, digital data links, and air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G has self-protection capability and is also highly effective for target identification and prosecution).
Source: U.S. Navy; Photo from video screenshot
