Friday, April 30, 2010

Joint F-35 EW squadron set up

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The squadron serving as the sole Department of Defense provider of electronic warfare support for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter activated April 23 in a ceremony at Eglin. The 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron stood up as a first step toward preparing airmen, sailors and Marines with the latest electronic warfare data for all three variants on the F-35. The squadron, which currently has 32 technicians and engineers, will grow to 130 personnel at full strength and will operate the $300 million United States Reprogramming Laboratory, which tests all aspects of the Joint Strike Fighter's electronic warfare capability. Half will be airmen and half Navy and Marine personnel. Eglin is the home of the JSF training center. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 04/29/10)