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Air Force Bolsters Electronic Warfare

The service reactivates the 23rd Electronic Warfare Squadron.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Luke Marron, the new commander of the 23d Electronic Warfare Squadron, which was reactivated on April 18, speaks at the reactivation ceremony that was held that day at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, about the important mission of the squadron. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Benjamin Aronson

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Luke Marron, the new commander of the 23rd Electronic Warfare Squadron, which was reactivated on April 18, speaks at the reactivation ceremony that was held that day at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, about the important mission of the squadron. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Benjamin Aronson

To better provide intelligence in the electromagnetic spectrum, the U.S. Air Force reactivated the 23rd Electronic Warfare Squadron (EWS) on April 18 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, according to an April 22 report from Senior Airman Anna Smith.

The squadron, which is now part of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing at Eglin, had started in 1939 as the 23rd Pursuit Squadron. It then was redesignated as the 23rd Fighter Squadron in 1942 and provided crucial support during World War II, Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism through 2010 when it was first deactivated.

Today, the squadron will provide operational, technical and maintenance support for the service’s electromagnetic warfare systems—a vital role against near-peer adversaries.

“The 23rd 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,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Luke Marron, commander of the squadron.

In addition, the 23rd EWS will support Air Force mission data file reprogramming efforts 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. “Their expertise is also leveraged to … conduct exploitation testing of foreign threat systems and support developmental and operational tests of new and modified EW systems,” Smith stated in the release.

Updating mission data files will equip warfighters with current intelligence to detect, identify, target and neutralize threats, enhancing the survivability and effectiveness of Air Force personnel and assets, Smith noted.

Prior, Marron had been commander of the former 350th Spectrum Warfare Group (SWG), Detachment 1, which forms the basis of the reactivated squadron.

“As we stand here today … I’m reminded of the importance of service and sacrifice,” Marron said. “Service and sacrifice defined the 23rd Fighter Squadron, and it’ll continue to define the 23rd Electronic Warfare Squadron.”

According to Smith, U.S. Air Force Col. Candice Sperry, 350th SWG commander, presided over the ceremony.

“There is no one better prepared or more deserving to lead [the 23rd EWS] than Lt. Col. Marron,” Sperry said. “We need his leadership to build this squadron’s rich history … and to continue building capabilities our warfighters will need to keep from harm’s way.”

“We have the skill, the dedication and the unwavering commitment to our mission,” Marron said. “Together, we will write the next chapter in the proud history of the 23rd Electronic Warfare Squadron.”