Electronic Warfare Officer
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. Air Force, an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) is a trained aerial navigator
in the Air Force who has received training in enemy threat systems, electronic warfare principles and overcoming enemy air defense system
s . These officers are specialists in finding, identifying and countering air defense systems and also radar-, infrared- and optically guided surface-to-air missile
s, anti-aircraft artillery as well as enemy fighter planes. In aircraft that could penetrate enemy airspace EWOs protect their aircraft using radar jamming, chaff and flares to deceive potential threats. In other aircraft EWOs work to gather intelligence information
on potential enemy air defense systems and communication systems.
For decades the U.S. Air Force used fully trained navigator officers as EWO Trainees, or EWOT. Their primary training was carried out by the 453d Flying Training Squadron
at the former Mather AFB, California near Sacramento
. Their follow-on training as EWOs, called "Combat Crew Training School" (CCTS), was usually carried out at the units to which they had been assigned. The B-52 Stratofortress
CCTS was conducted at Castle AFB, California]. EWOs could also be assigned to F-4 Phantom II
, F-111 Aardvark, C-130 Hercules
versions (MC-130, EC-130, etc.), B-1 Lancer
or a number of versions of the RC-135.
As an example, the EWO in a B-52 is trained in the use of a variety of active and passive electronic countermeasures
(ECM) techniques and equipment. Active jammers include the AN/ALQ-155 Power Management System, AN/ALQ-117/172, AN/ALT-16, AN/ALQ-122, AN/ALQ-153 Tail Warning System and the low-band communications jammer set AN/ALT-32. The EWO monitors the electromagnetic environment
through the use of radar receivers such as the AN/ALR-46 and AN/ALR-20A. Additionally, the EWO has command of AN/ALE-24 chaff and AN/ALE-20 flare set for self-protection.
Beginning in 2009, U.S. Air Force candidates for Electronic Warfare Officer and Weapons Systems Officer were no longer required to go though aircraft advanced navigator training first. This is because no aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory that has Electronic Warfare Officers does not already have a navigator on it.
Currently the B-1B Lancer bomber
and F-15E Strike Eagle
Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) training is located at the Naval Air Station Pensacola
. The training period is 12 months not including Initial Flight Screening (IFS) and completion training as an EWO in the 563d FTS.
The EWO basic course training was conducted at the 563d Flying Training Squadron
at Randolph AFB, Texas. It was a 12-week program for B-52, AC/MC/EC-130, and RC-135 EWOs. F-15E and B-1 WSOs are also qualified EWOs. Students went from undergraduate navigator training at the 562d FTS and from WSO to their follow-on training. Upon completion the EWOs were presented with their wings and the WSOs achieved their upgrades. The school was closed, redesigned and reopened as a CSO school in Pensacola, Fl. The last class graduated October 2010.
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
in the Air Force who has received training in enemy threat systems, electronic warfare principles and overcoming enemy air defense system
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
s . These officers are specialists in finding, identifying and countering air defense systems and also radar-, infrared- and optically guided surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
s, anti-aircraft artillery as well as enemy fighter planes. In aircraft that could penetrate enemy airspace EWOs protect their aircraft using radar jamming, chaff and flares to deceive potential threats. In other aircraft EWOs work to gather intelligence information
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
on potential enemy air defense systems and communication systems.
For decades the U.S. Air Force used fully trained navigator officers as EWO Trainees, or EWOT. Their primary training was carried out by the 453d Flying Training Squadron
453d Electronic Warfare Squadron
The 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 53rd Wing and is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Forida-Overview:The 453rd EWS provides a full spectrum of EW support to DoD and coalition warfighters...
at the former Mather AFB, California near Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
. Their follow-on training as EWOs, called "Combat Crew Training School" (CCTS), was usually carried out at the units to which they had been assigned. The B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
CCTS was conducted at Castle AFB, California]. EWOs could also be assigned to F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, F-111 Aardvark, C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
versions (MC-130, EC-130, etc.), B-1 Lancer
B-1 Lancer
The Rockwell B-1 LancerThe name "Lancer" is only applied to the B-1B version, after the program was revived. is a four-engine variable-sweep wing strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force...
or a number of versions of the RC-135.
As an example, the EWO in a B-52 is trained in the use of a variety of active and passive electronic countermeasures
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
(ECM) techniques and equipment. Active jammers include the AN/ALQ-155 Power Management System, AN/ALQ-117/172, AN/ALT-16, AN/ALQ-122, AN/ALQ-153 Tail Warning System and the low-band communications jammer set AN/ALT-32. The EWO monitors the electromagnetic environment
Electromagnetic environment
In telecommunication, the term electromagnetic environment has the following meanings:#For a telecommunications system, the spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields surrounding a given site...
through the use of radar receivers such as the AN/ALR-46 and AN/ALR-20A. Additionally, the EWO has command of AN/ALE-24 chaff and AN/ALE-20 flare set for self-protection.
Beginning in 2009, U.S. Air Force candidates for Electronic Warfare Officer and Weapons Systems Officer were no longer required to go though aircraft advanced navigator training first. This is because no aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory that has Electronic Warfare Officers does not already have a navigator on it.
Currently the B-1B Lancer bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
and F-15E Strike Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather multirole fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. United States Air Force F-15E Strike...
Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) training is located at the Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
. The training period is 12 months not including Initial Flight Screening (IFS) and completion training as an EWO in the 563d FTS.
The EWO basic course training was conducted at the 563d Flying Training Squadron
563d Flying Training Squadron
The 563d Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training.-History:...
at Randolph AFB, Texas. It was a 12-week program for B-52, AC/MC/EC-130, and RC-135 EWOs. F-15E and B-1 WSOs are also qualified EWOs. Students went from undergraduate navigator training at the 562d FTS and from WSO to their follow-on training. Upon completion the EWOs were presented with their wings and the WSOs achieved their upgrades. The school was closed, redesigned and reopened as a CSO school in Pensacola, Fl. The last class graduated October 2010.