16th Observation Squadron
| 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1917-1919; 1921-1945; 1947-1949; 1993-present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Test and evaluation |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General of the Air ForceHenry H. Arnold (1926-28) |
| Insignia | |
| 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron emblem |  |
The 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 53d Electronic Warfare Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was formed in 1985 by the consolidation of three units.
The 16th Aero Squadron, a World War I squadron that provided maintenance support for aeronautical units on the Western Front.
The 16th Reconnaissance Squadron, which served during the years between the World Wars as an observation squadron, with its flights located with various Army schools. During World War II, the squadron served in the Mediterranean, where it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance from October 1943 to January 1944.
The 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, which served as a long range photographic unit during the early years of the Cold War.
The 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron (EWS) provides electronic warfare test facilities for mission data and electronic warfare systems test and evaluation. Its personnel assess the maintainability, reliability, suitability, and readiness of electronic warfare systems and support equipment, and perform test and evaluation of new concepts for electronic warfare systems. They also monitor developmental testing conducted by acquisition agencies. The 16th EWS develops, fabricates and maintains test instrumentation and performs acceptance tests of all new electronic warfare related hardware and software and supports training for maintenance and operational units worldwide. The squadron also provides technicians and equipment to execute the COMBAT SHIELD Electronic Warfare Assessment Program. The 16th EWS has more than $450 million in assets, including eight system integration laboratories and five mobile test facilities.
Detachment 1 of the 16 EWS is located at Tyndall AFB, Florida and provides maintenance support for adversary electronic attack training pods used for air-to-air electronic warfare training. These pods are repaired and modified at Tyndall AFB and shipped to fighter units worldwide. Det 1, 16 EWS also maintains electronic attack payloads for full-scale and subscale drones in support of live-fire missile testing under the COMBAT ARCHER Weapon System Evaluation Program.
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