Definition
VAQ‑35, nicknamed the “Greywolves,” was a United States Navy Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron that operated the EA‑6B Prowler aircraft to provide electronic attack and aggressor training for fleet radar operators.
Overview
- Active Dates: 14 August 1991 – 7 October 1993 (operational from June 1991)
- Country: United States
- Branch: United States Navy
- Role: Electronic warfare (EW) training and support, including radar jamming, deception, and EW evaluations for research and development.
- Command Structure: Part of the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG).
- Base: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
- Aircraft: EA‑6B Prowler, an electronic warfare variant of the A‑6 Intruder.
VAQ‑35 was formed by reassigning personnel and equipment from VAQ‑142, a fleet EA‑6B squadron that stood down on 1 April 1991. Alongside VAQ‑33 and VAQ‑34, it served as an electronic aggressor unit, simulating hostile EW threats to train carrier and fleet air wing crews. During its brief existence, the squadron conducted over 42 deployments to 16 locations, including Bermuda, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Budgetary decisions to transfer the electronic aggressor mission to the Navy Reserve led to its disestablishment in October 1993.
Etymology / Origin
The designation “VAQ” follows the U.S. Navy’s squadron naming convention, where “V” denotes a fixed‑wing aircraft, “A” indicates attack, and “Q” specifies electronic warfare. The numeric suffix “35” identifies the specific unit within the electronic attack community. The nickname “Greywolves” was an informal moniker adopted by the squadron’s personnel.
Characteristics
- Mission Focus: Provide realistic electronic threat simulation for fleet radar and weapons systems, support EW testing for new technologies, and develop tactics and counter‑tactics.
- Training Role: Acted as an “aggressor” squadron, employing the EA‑6B’s suite of jamming pods, receivers, and signal generators to emulate adversary EW capabilities.
- Operational Tempo: Frequent deployments to varied geographic locations to support fleet exercises and operational readiness.
- Disestablishment: The unit was deactivated as the Navy consolidated EW aggressor responsibilities under reserve components, reflecting post‑Cold War force restructuring.
Related Topics
- Electronic Attack (VAQ) Squadrons: Other U.S. Navy EA‑6B and EA‑18G squadrons tasked with electronic warfare.
- EA‑6B Prowler: The aircraft platform used by VAQ‑35 for electronic attack missions.
- Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG): The parent organization overseeing electronic aggressor training.
- U.S. Navy Electronic Warfare: The broader domain encompassing radar jamming, electronic surveillance, and signal intelligence.
- Reserve Electronic Aggressor Squadrons: Units that inherited VAQ‑35’s mission after its disestablishment.