Scorpions travel to California for missile training

By Lt.jg. Scott Chuda • May 9, 2013 9:14 am
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Photo provided. The Scorpion team making the HARM shot possible are (from left) AD2 Keenan Williams, AO1 Brian Shetley, AM1 Shawn Gubernath, AT2 William Joyner, AOC Dennis Holloman, AME2 Laquitta Archie, AOAN Christopher Goucher, AE1 Larry Lowry, AE3 Jordan Hall, AOAN Findlay Walsh, AO1 Sheldon Wright and AO2 Jarret Nitta.

The Scorpions of Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) traveled to NAS Point Mugu in Southern California to perform an AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) shoot on April 5, 2013.

The HARM is a kinetic weapon EA-18G’s crews can use to combat enemy radars. The missile homes in on the radar emissions of enemy surface-to-air missiles, and allows the Growler aircrew another choice in combating complex Integrated Air Defense Systems. VAQ-132 made history in March 2011 by becoming the first EA-18G squadron to launch the HARM in a combat situation during their participation in Operation Odyssey Dawn in support of a United Nations resolution to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.

Following closely on the heels of a HARM shoot in December, the most recent shoot created another opportunity for the aircrew and maintainers to fine tune their skills. The Scorpion maintainers and aircrew invested many weeks of planning and pre-flight preparation to ensure that the missile shoot was executed safely and efficiently.

The Scorpion aircrew on the shoot was the pilot Lt. Brian Smith and Electronic Warfare Officer Lt. Cmdr. Matt Schlarmann. Smith and Schlarmann performed numerous training flights and simulators utilizing the HARM in the past, but the April shoot marked the first time either had employed the actual missile.

“I was very nervous the night before the shoot,” said Smith. “I had dreams I was going to panic and my thumb wasn’t going to be able to press the button. But, when I got into the jet, my training took over and I was able to relax, which made the exercise a great success and very rewarding.”

The Scorpions invested many hours of pre-flight preparation to ensure that the missile shoot was executed safely and efficiently. In addition to the Growler that fired the missile, a second VAQ-132 Growler participated to ensure that the range area was clear of all vessels and aircraft. A S-3 Viking from VX-30 was also involved, using its maritime patrol capabilities to ensure that the range was clear of any surface contacts.

 

The members of the shoot returned to NAS Whidbey Island with an eagerness to continue their training for the next mission that may be placed in front of them.

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