The VAQ-141 "Shadowhawks" is a premier United States Navy Electronic Attack Squadron that operates the EA-18G Growler, a specialized electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Squadron OverviewCurrent Base: Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan.Assignment: Part of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), supporting the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).Mission: Dominating the electromagnetic spectrum by jamming enemy communications and blinding radar systems. History with the EA-18G GrowlerTransition: In February 2010, the Shadowhawks became the second operational squadron to transition from the EA-6B Prowler to the EA-18G Growler.Combat Milestones:2011: Conducted the first-ever carrier-based combat operations of the EA-18G from the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in support of Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.2012: Relocated to NAF Atsugi, Japan, to join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces.2017: Moved to their current station at MCAS Iwakuni. Aircraft CapabilitiesThe EA-18G Growler utilized by VAQ-141 is equipped with: AN/ALQ-99: Tactical jamming pods for high and low-band suppression.AN/ALQ-218: Wide-band receivers mounted on the wingtips.Self-Defense: Typically armed with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for air-to-air defense and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles for destroying enemy radar.