The following cool video Dubbed “VAQ-130 Zappers Cruise 2016,” is probably the best EA-18G Growler footage you have ever seen so far.
Taken during the unit recent deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 on board the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
The clip is divided into six chapters:
- Intro/History of the Zappers
- OIR/Welcome to Ready One
- Rocky
- Continuous Thunder
- Holidays/Coming Home
- End Credits
In 1959 The united state Navy commissioned its first Electronic warfare squadron. The squadron was originally commissioned as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirteen (VAW-13) flying AD-5Qs
In March 1975, the squadron relocated to their current homeport of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler.
Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the “Zappers”, is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy
Part of Carrier Air Wing 3, the Zappers deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. VAQ-130 is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the U.S. Navy.
VAQ-130 is the oldest U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron.
The EA-18G Growler is the airborne electronic attack variant of the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet.
The Aircraft has state of art sensors and weapons, the aircraft can perform a wide array of missions including
- Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)
- Stand-off and Escort Jamming (where the Growler not only fly the traditional stand-off jamming mission but also provides the escort for other air assets thanks to the speed and agility inherited form the Super Hornet)
- Non-Traditional Electronic Attack (where thanks to its enhanced situational awareness the EA-18G achieves an unmatched degree of integration with ground operations) and Self-protection
- Time-Critical Strike Support (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).
In December 2010, the squadron returned from their last fleet deployment flying the EA-6B Prowler and began transition training in March 2011 to the EA-18G Growler; the Zappers completed transition training in November 2011.
The squadron deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman in July 2013 following a year-long work-up cycle.
