On 28 March 2022, six Boeing EA-18G Growlers assigned to Naval Expeditionary Squadron VAQ-134 “Garudas” deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base with the purpose of bolstering readiness, enhancing NATO’s collective defensive posture and further increasing air integration capabilities with allied and partner nations. The squadron has since been operating to support the European mission and has been working with the U.S. Air Force and NATO Forces with the purpose of adding Electronic Warfare capability training with the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) counterparts and NATO allied nations. The EA-18Gs have been operating continuously and are also involved in operational missions throughout the weekend. Patrick Roegies, Ben Gorski and Jurgen van Toor visited Spangdahlem Air Base to assess the experiences and lessons learned throughout the six-month deployment.

The temporary deployment of the EA-18G Growlers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-134 “Garudas” is a short-term solution to add electronic warfare capability with the purpose to be able to project a multi-disciplinary force that has all the required capabilities to operate in case the conflict escalates.