The U.S. Navy has decided to assign another 36 EA-18G electronic attack jets to NAS Whidbey Island.
U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers from VAQ-140, Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, fly alongside an E-8C Joint STARS during Valiant Shield 18 out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 17, 2018. Valiant Shield 18 is a biennial, U.S.-only, field training exercise with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces in relation to current operational plans. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Team JSTARS, consisting of the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing (ACW), active duty personnel assigned to the 461st ACW and Army JSTARS, provides a unique, manned, joint airborne command control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability to combatant commanders worldwide. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Roger Parsons)
There will also be an increase in the number of Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at Outlying Landing Field Coupeville.
