55th Electronic Combat Group

55th Electronic Combat Group
55th Electronic Combat Group
	Insignia of the group
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Electronic Combat Group
Size	Unknown
Garrison/HQ	Davis-Monthan Base, United States
Engagements	Cold War Panama Invasion ; ; Operation Provide Comfort ; Gulf War ; Operation Uphold Democracy ; Bosnian War NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina Operation Deny Flight ; Operation Deliberate Force ; ; Operation Decisive Edge ; ; Operation Vigilant Warrior ; War on terror War in Afghanistan ; Iraq War ; ;
Commanders
Group Commander	Colonel Jeremy R. Smith
Senior Enlisted Leader	Chief Master Sergeant Brandon L. Vath

Last updated January 17, 2025

The 55th Electronic Combat Group, located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, provides combat-ready aircraft, crews, maintenance, and operational support to combatant commanders. The group is a Geographically Separated Unit which falls under the command of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base. The group also plans and executes information operations, including information warfare and electronic attack, in support of theatre campaign plans.^[1]

History

The unit provides combat-ready EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, crews, maintenance, and operational support to combatant commanders. Members of the group conduct EC-130H aircrew initial qualification and difference training for 20 aircrew specialities and support operational and force development testing and evaluation for new aircraft systems.^[2]

Beginning 23 August 2024, the first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft was delivered to the 43rd ECS.^[3] This new Compass Call aircraft is expected to replace the aging EC-130H fleet, with 10 total EA-37B aircraft planned for delivery.^[3]

Structure

41st and 43d Electronic Combat Squadrons

The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron was activated in July 1980, and uniformly, the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron was activated in April 1992.^{[ citation needed ]}

Both squadrons provide vital capabilities in electronic warfare for the Air Force and are poised for immediate deployment to specific theatre contingencies. The unit's combat missions are to support tactical air, ground, and naval operations by confusing the enemy's defences and disrupting its command as well as control capabilities. ^[2]

These squadrons operate the EC-130H aircraft, the aircraft are modified for missions with electronic countermeasure systems, specialising in jamming equipment, the capability to aerial refuel, and upgraded engines and avionics. The squadrons have participated in operations such as Southern Watch, Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Deny Flight, Vigilant Warrior, Provide Comfort, Decisive Edge, Deliberate Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.^[2]

755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

The 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron provides war-fighting commanders with combat-ready aircraft to expeditiously execute information warfare and electronic attack operations. The squadron plans and executes all on-equipment maintenance actions for the EC-130H and TC-130H aircraft, including launch and recovery, scheduled inspections, servicing, and component replacement. Additionally, they also conduct all maintenance training, aircrew debriefing and supply functions. ^[2]

755th Operations Support Squadron

The 755th Operations Support Squadron supports the group's combat missions and contingency taskings. The squadron performs command and control warfare analysis, targeting, and intelligence support and directs operation support functions including weapons and tactics training for all United States Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircrews. They also conduct initial academic and flying training for 20 crew positions, and 200 students while managing 17 major command syllabi. ^[2]

Related Research Articles

Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base 5 miles southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona. It was established in 1925 as Davis–Monthan Landing Field. The host unit for Davis–Monthan AFB is the 355th Wing assigned to Twelfth Air Force (12AF), part of Air Combat Command (ACC). The base is best known as the location of the Air Force Materiel Command's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the aircraft boneyard for all excess military and U.S. government aircraft and aerospace vehicles.

The Lockheed Martin EC-130 series comprises several slightly different versions of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules that have been and continue to be operated by the U.S. Air Force and, until the 1990s, the U.S. Navy.

The EC-130H Compass Call is an electronic attack aircraft flown by the United States Air Force. Based on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the aircraft is heavily modified to disrupt enemy command and control communications, perform offensive counterinformation operations, and carry out other kinds of electronic attacks. Planned upgrades will add the ability to attack early warning and acquisition radars. Based at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, EC-130Hs can be deployed worldwide at short notice to support U.S. and allied strategic and tactical air, surface, and special operations forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th Wing</span> US Air Force unit

The 55th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. The wing is primarily stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, but maintains one of its groups and associated squadrons at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as a geographically separated unit.

The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center was formerly known as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon in Fallon, Nevada. It is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development. NAWDC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the United States Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The name was changed from NSAWC to NAWDC in June 2015 to align with the naming convention of the Navy's other Warfighting Development Centers (including Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, Naval Information Warfighting Development Center, and the Undersea Warfighting Development Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Combat Group RAAF</span> Force element group of the Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group (ACG) is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy its combat aircraft.

The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing was a provisional United States Air Force unit located at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from 2002 to 2021. It was one of two expeditionary wings in Afghanistan. Most wing personnel were located at the Air Force Village known as Camp Cunningham.

The 193rd Special Operations Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, stationed at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Middletown, Pennsylvania. The wing is gained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when in a "state" status, as well as by the United States Air Force and Air Force Special Operations Command in its Federal capacity as part of the Air National Guard. The wing was organized as a group, the 193rd Tactical Electronic Warfare Group. Although it has never been mobilized as a unit, most of its equipment and personnel have been individually called up to serve in Southeast Asia and in Desert Storm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">355th Wing</span> US Air Force unit

The 355th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where it operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The wing's mission is to provide close air support (CAS), air interdiction (AI), forward air control (FAC), combat search and rescue (CSAR), ground-based tactical air control, and airbase operations.

The 179th Cyberspace Wing is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard, stationed at Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base, Mansfield, Ohio. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the Wing is gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

The 152nd Airlift Wing is a unit of the Nevada Air National Guard, stationed at Nevada Air National Guard Base, Nevada. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the Wing is operationally gained by the 18th Air Force of the Air Mobility Command.

The 156th Wing is a unit of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, stationed at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC). It traces its history to the creation of the 156th Tactical Fighter Group in 1962.

The 164th Airlift Squadron is a squadron of the Ohio Air National Guard 179th Airlift Wing located at Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base, Mansfield, Ohio. The 164th AS was most recently equipped with the C-130 Hercules.

The 563rd Rescue Group is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The group also controls the rescue squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It is assigned to the 355th Wing. The group directs flying operations dedicated to personnel recovery and is part of Air Combat Command. The group was activated under its current designation at Davis-Monthan in 2003 to command rescue units in the western United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41st Electronic Combat Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit from its parent wing, the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call communications-jamming aircraft.

The 42d Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit from its parent wing, the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The squadron is the Air Force's sole Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call formal training unit.

The 43d Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group, being stationed as a tenant unit at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit from its parent, the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the EA-37B communications-jamming aircraft.

VAQ-34, callsign Flashbacks, was a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 1 March 1983 at the Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu, California, under the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group. The squadron was formed to provide realistic training for ship crews to counter Soviet electronic and cruise-missile threats, and was modeled after its East Coast counterpart, VAQ-33.

The EA-37B Compass Call is an electronic warfare aircraft based on the Gulfstream G550 entering service with the United States Air Force with the first example delivered on 23 August 2024 to Davis–Monthan Air Force Base for crew training. The plane is replacing the EC-130H Compass Call.

References

1 2 "55th Electronic Combat Group". Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Retrieved 10 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
1 2 3 4 5 "Welcome to Davis Monthan Air Force Base". militarynewcomers. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
1 2 Willis, David (17 September 2024), "First EA-37B Compass Call Delivered", Key.Aero, retrieved 30 December 2024, The US Air Force has taken delivery of its first EA-37B electronic attack aircraft. EA-37B 19-5591 touched down at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, on August 23, 2024, the first of the new Compass Call aircraft to be handed over to the US Air Force.

External links

55th ECG Factsheet

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[:0-1] 1 2 "55th Electronic Combat Group". Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Retrieved 10 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[mnc-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "Welcome to Davis Monthan Air Force Base". militarynewcomers. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[Key-3] 1 2 Willis, David (17 September 2024), "First EA-37B Compass Call Delivered", Key.Aero, retrieved 30 December 2024, The US Air Force has taken delivery of its first EA-37B electronic attack aircraft. EA-37B 19-5591 touched down at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, on August 23, 2024, the first of the new Compass Call aircraft to be handed over to the US Air Force.

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