Electronic warfare officer

United States Air Force specialization Electronic Warfare Officer Charles B. DeBellevue behind pilot Richard S. Ritchie aboard a F-4 Phantom II during the Vietnam War. In the United States Air Force, an electronic warfare officer (EWO) is an aerial navigator who has received training in enemy threat systems, electronic warfare principles and overcoming enemy air defense systems. General tasks Radar jamming These officers are specialists in finding, identifying and countering air defense systems and also radar-, infrared- and optically guided surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery as well as enemy fighter planes. In aircraft that could penetrate enemy airspace EWOs protect their aircraft using radar jamming, chaff and flares to deceive potential threats. Surveillance In other aircraft EWOs work to gather intelligence information on potential enemy air defense systems and communication systems. These types of mission are commonly known as Ferret missions. Training United States For decades the U.S. Air Force used fully-trained navigator officers as EWO trainees, or EWOT. Their primary training was carried out by the 453d Flying Training Squadron at the former Mather AFB, Ca