Air Force activates new electronic warfare squadron

The Air Force has reactivated an electronic warfare unit that aims to more quickly respond to changes in the spectrum.

The 23d Electronic Warfare Squadron was activated in a ceremony April 18 and falls under the 350th Spectrum Warfare Group. Its predecessor, Detachment 1, which was deactivated, was created in 2023 to focus on reprogramming mission data files for command-and-control and combat rescue platforms.

The mission of the 23d will be to support mission data file reprogramming for command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C2ISR) platforms, combat rescue platforms and expendables for the combat Air Force, including the High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile, according to an Air Force release.

Mission data files are the on-board data systems of an aircraft compiling information from the surrounding environment. They’ve been described as “the brains of the airplane.”

The reactivated unit falls under the command of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, which was created in 2021 to enable, equip and optimize the fielding of electromagnetic spectrum capabilities, specializing in the reprogramming of systems.

In the cat-and-mouse game of EW and electromagnetic spectrum operations — where adversaries seek to deny access to the spectrum for communications or navigation through jamming — agility and speed are paramount. Once a signal is detected, forces must work to reprogram systems to counter it, which during the Cold War, could take weeks to months as the signal had to be sent back to a lab, a fix devised, and then sent back to the field.

Modern forces are trying to use more digital means to reprogram systems in as near real-time as possible to stay ahead of threats.

“The 23d Electronic Warfare Squadron will be the shield that protects our forces, the sword that disrupts our enemies, and the eyes that provide critical intelligence in the electromagnetic spectrum,” Lt. Col. Luke Marron, commander of the squadron, said.

The unit provides operational, technical and maintenance support for electronic warfare systems. Airmen within the squadron maintain 24/7 contingency reprogramming capabilities, conduct exploitation testing of foreign threat systems, and support developmental and operational tests of new and modified EW systems, according to the release.

“The 23d Electronic Warfare Squadron reactivation allows us to more effectively and efficiently appropriate resources to our current C2ISR, rotary, and weapons portfolios while posturing for the future growth. As we look to invest and increase lethality across the Air Force and Department of Defense, this will ensure we’re postured to react to changes in the electromagnetic order of battle in the quickest manner possible,” Marron said in a statement to DefenseScoop.