The U.S. Navy is proposing to deactivate five electronic attack squadrons, or VAQs, that operate the Boeing EA-18G Growler, representing approximately one-third of the Department of Defense’s tactical aircraft electronic attack force.
As laid out in the recently released Department of the Navy’s fiscal 2023 budget highlights book, the Navy proposes to deactivate its entire expeditionary VAQ force, which deploys to overseas bases to provide electronic attack capabilities to the joint force. The five expeditionary VAQ squadrons are separate from the Navy’s VAQ squadrons that deploy on aircraft carriers.
The Navy is the only provider of expeditionary electronic attack jets to the joint force. The Air Force retired its last EF-111A Raven jets in 1998 and the Marine Corps retired its last EA-6B Prowler tactical jets in 2019. The expeditionary VAQ squadrons have deployed to Southwest Asia, Japan and Italy over the years in support of U.S. and coalition forces. Last month, one squadron, VAQ-134, was deployed to the European Command as part of the build-up of forces in support NATO’s eastern flank after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The SEAPOWER site (official publications of the U.S. Navy League) reports that the five squadrons include a total of 25 EA-18G Growlers that would be stored at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Montham Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, half in FY2024 and half in FY2025. The cuts would also free up approximately 1,020 officers and enlisted personnel. The Navy estimates the savings in the Future Years Defense Plan would be $807.8 million.
The Navy’s five expeditionary VAQ squadrons are all based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington: VAQs 131, 132, 134, 135, and 138. The Navy’s only reserve VAQ squadron, VAQ-209, also has been used in an expeditionary role.
The carrier-deployable VAQ squadrons are VAQ 130, 133, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141 and 142, with another, VAQ-144, to be established in October. All are based at Whidbey Island, except VAQ-141, which is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, as part of Carrier Air Wing Five, deployed for the USS Ronald Reagan.
VAQ expeditionary squadrons are considered high demand/high value assets by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Assessments by the various regional combatant commanders may be instrumental in reversing or mitigating the Navy’s proposal.
If the Navy achieves its goal, the other U.S. services and allied countries should seriously consider developing their own electronic attack platforms, such as the future Eurofighter ECR. Or jointly fund the operation of the EA-18Gs that would, otherwise, be stockpiled.
