Squadron provides 'electronic armor' to global warfighters

  • Published
  • By Ashley M. Wright
  • Eglin Air Force Base Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  Approximately 170 professionals at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, use complex systems and produce information to arm warfighters with the knowledge needed to safely perform their duty.

Providing electronic warfare analysis and support down range to joint and coalition warfighters is the mission of the 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron, which is part of the 53rd Wing headquartered here.

"We have a very diverse portfolio of products and support we provide to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Randal Walker, the 453rd EWS commander.

Those products include analysis tools and data critical to mission planning, and the modeling and simulation tools to evaluate the performance of Integrated Air Defense Systems, the colonel said.

"Additionally, we generate a considerable portion of the data needed to ensure our 5th generation and legacy fighter aircraft can distinguish between friend or foe," he said. "We scan thousands of radar signals each day and track down any anomalies that may exist -- another crucial task to ensure our warfighter's self protection equipment accurately identifies and counters enemy threat systems."

Analysis Flight

The 453rd squadron's analysis flight allows warfighters to possess the ability to make decisions on the battlefield by accurately predicting the effect of electronic warfare systems in the planning process.

This brings "decision superiority" to the warfighter, said Capt. Michael Seal, the analysis flight commander.

"We use computer models to predict the results of using electronic warfare and/or communications systems under a given sets of circumstances," Captain Seal said. "We do this because the relative positioning of vehicles and systems to each other and terrain plays such a huge role in determining what will happen."

Data Flight

The 39 members of the squadron's data flight provide warfighters with the ability to know who's who on the airborne battlefield.

"We assist in protecting the warfighter by allowing aircraft warning sensors to be properly programmed to identify friend or foe," said John W. Langford, the flight commander. "We provide essential data for planning aircraft missions over hostile areas by characterizing the performance of threat systems and defining the vulnerabilities of (Department of Defense) airborne target signatures."

The flight also produces software files with performance data on radars, missiles and anti-aircraft artillery for both enemy and friendly systems.

"These data files allow mission planners to optimize aircraft routes, to minimize detection and exposure to missiles or artillery," Mr. Langford said.

Additionally, the flight prepares warfighters for tomorrow's challenges, he said.

"We support the F-22 (Raptor) and F-35 (Lightning II) fighter programs by providing the necessary data details to maximize their ability to fuse and sort through massive amounts of real time information," Mr. Langford said. "This allows these leading edge fighters to have effective 'electronic armor,' quickly distinguishing foes from friends, thereby improving their lethality and effectiveness."

Flagging Flight

"Compare expectations to current reality" is the motto for the more than 70 members of the squadron's flagging flight.

"(Our job) can be compared to finding a needle in a haystack," said Capt. Jim Gary, the flagging flight commander. "Our flight is tasked with looking at enormous amounts of information. It is very tedious work that takes a team of multi-skilled Airmen and civilians to accomplish.

The flight members are part of a team that utilizes an automated processing system called the Flagging Analysis System.

This system weeds out large amounts of nominal information making it easier for intelligence analysts to identify and analyze anomalies, Captain Gary said.

All the data ensures the engineers who program combat aircraft electronic self-protection systems have up-to-date information available. This allows warfighters to have situational awareness necessary to accomplish the mission.

Operations Flight

Developing electronic warfare modeling and simulation capabilities for training is the charge of 14 individuals in the squadron's operations flight.

The flight creates software models used in simulators and replicate the entire battle space.

The modeling is geared to help aircrews learn to defend against electronic warfare threats of enemy aircraft, targeting radars and missile sites, said Maj. Aaron Homjak, the operations flight commander.

The tools are used in networked simulators at training units across the country and a few coalition partner nations. Airmen typically receive this training before deploying to the area of responsibility.

"We are leaders in the development of Distributed Mission Operations & Training, a key to the Air Force's future of advanced, cost-effective training," Major Homjak said.

Virtual training can save as much as $100,000 per hour, saving billions of dollars annually in fuel, maintenance and other resources, the major said.

"Our people are our biggest asset," Colonel Walker said. "Our personnel are recognized throughout the joint and coalition communities as some of the best in their respective fields. Without them, we would not be nearly as successful at our mission as we are today."