VQ-11 Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 11 Bandits
On 31 March 2000 Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 11 was deactivated after less than three years of service. The Naval Air Reserve's first and only VQ squadron, VQ-11-established on 1 July 1997-was not an actual reconnaissance squadron. Its two EP-3J Orions, which previously were operated by reserve Patrol Squadron 66, NAS Willow Grove, PA, were used by the Fleet Information Warfare Command Training Detachment to simulate hostile electronic-warfare threats by jamming radar and communications during fleet training exercises. VP-66 had performed the Electronic Warfare Training mission for the fleet since accepting the mission in 1993. VP-66 EP-3J aircrews conducted nearly 60 worldwide detachments in support of Second, Third, Sixth and Seventh Fleet Battle Groups.
In 1997, these aircraft and personnel were established as a separate command, VQ-11, homeported in Brunswick, Maine. The EP-3Js were modified from P-3Bs during 1992 by Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems (now Raytheon) in Waco, Texas, and were initially operated by active duty Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 33 until the electronic warfare training role was transferred to the Naval Air Reserve.
The EP-3J's mission suite included USQ-113 communications intrusion, deception and jamming equipment; ALQ-170 missile-seeker simulator; AST-4 and AST-6 radar signal simulators; ULQ-21 noise/deception jammer pod; and ALE-43 chaff dispenser pods. VQ-11 also operated a P-3C as a crew training and logistics aircraft. VQ-11's capability was diminished when one of its EP-3Js was severely damaged on the ground by a fire in 1998 and never returned to service. The second EP-3J was retired in late 1999 as the squadron prepared for deactivation.
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