Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Red Flag 20-1

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
05/06/2020

Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, takes off during Red Flag 20-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 27, 2020.

The Growler is a derivative of the F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s maritime strike aircraft.

Its mission is mainly electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses.

Red Flag is the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise, which provides aircrews the experiences of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment.

Known as the Lancers, VAQ 131 is a U.S. Navy tactical jet aircraft squadron specializing in kinetic and non-kinetic Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, takes off during Red Flag 20-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 27, 2020. The Growler is a derivative of the F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s maritime strike aircraft. Its mission is mainly electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses, particularly at the start and on-going early stages of hostilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, takes off during Red Flag 20-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 27, 2020. Red Flag is the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise, which provides aircrews the experiences of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
Two U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, perform preflight checks on an EA-18G Growler aircraft on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 29, 2020. The first production Growler was delivered June 3, 2008 to VAQ 129, at NAS Whidbey Island. Initial operational capability and full rate production followed in the fall of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
U.S. Navy Lt. Brianna Bilunas, avionics armament division officer assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, grabs her oxygen mask during preflight checks on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 29, 2020. Oxygen masks supply breathable air (a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, the ratio between the two depending on altitude). (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
U.S. Navy Lt. Brianna Bilunas, avionics armament division officer assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, performs preflight checks in an EA-18G Growler aircraft on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 29, 2020. Known as the Lancers, VAQ 131 is a U.S. Navy tactical jet aircraft squadron specializing in kinetic and non-kinetic Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, taxis on the flightline during Red Flag 20-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 27, 2020. NAS Whidbey Island is the premier naval aviation installation in the Pacific Northwest and home of all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
U.S. Navy Airman, Alexus Tesi, a plane captain assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, checks a fuel line attached to an EA-18G Growler aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 29, 2020. Plane Captains perform daily checks on all aircraft and additional checks before and after each flight. Checks include looking for cracks on the plane, missing fasteners (which could allow foreign objects to damage an engine), emergency oxygen levels, and canopy cleanliness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)
A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, taxis on the flightline during Red Flag 20-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 27, 2020. Nellis AFB is one of the largest fighter bases in the world. Aircraft from Nellis operate on the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), which offers more than 15,000 square miles of airspace and 4,700 square miles of restricted land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)