Weapon Systems Officer

In the United States Air Force, the Weapon Systems Officer ("WSO", pronounced "wizzo") is an air navigator directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the aircraft (fighter or bomber). The WSO integrates with the pilot to collectively achieve and maintain crew efficiency, situational awareness and mission effectiveness. In United States Air Force (USAF) fighter aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, or the F-16D or F-16F Fighting Falcon the WSO can pilot the aircraft when required although this is typically during non-tactical portions of the mission (e.g., returning to base). When designated mission commander (MC), the WSO is also responsible for all phases of the assigned mission.

WSO mission duties in fighter aircraft were historically rigid and because of the displays and controls in the front and aft seats of fighter cockpits. However modern fighter cockpits using programmable multi-function displays allow assigned roles to be more flexible than previous generation aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II, A-6 Intruder, or F-14 Tomcat. In the latest fighters either aircrew can be responsible for detecting, targeting and engaging air-to-air targets or ground targets, performing communications, operating data-link or defensive systems based on the tactical situation. This provides the flexiblity for pilot and WSO roles to be customized based on experience, expertise, workload, tactics, and weapons being employed. The pilot remains responsible for flying the aircraft in tactical situations. WSOs assigned to bomber aircraft typically have more rigidly defined roles.

Training

Currently all USAF WSOs are trained in Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (JSUNT) at NAS Pensacola, Florida. Training begins with the US Navy indoc course, Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) and culminates with the winging ceremony at the National Museum of Naval Aviation next to Sherman Field. After six weeks of ground school and basic water survival training during API, SWSOs (Student WSOs) check in to either the VT-4 Warbucks or the VT-10 Wildcats for Primary and Intermediate training.

Primary

Training begins with several weeks of ground school followed by reminants of the "super-fo" program from the US Navy where the SWSO takes front seat of the new T-6 Texan II for six "contact" flights up front. The SWSO is treated like a pilot training student for these six flights. After Contacts, the SWSO goes back to academics to learn instrument flying rules (IFR). Primary ends with a final instrument checkride.

Intermediate

Intermediate picks up where Primary ends for USAF SWSOs. After the instrument phase of training, students move to visual navigation (VNAV) "low levels" at 2000'AGL, and finish in the T-6 with a final training block called "forms" (formation flying). Forms consist of four flights of learning the basics of close in formation flying. After forms, SWSOs head back to ground school to learn an entirely new aircraft, the USAF T-1 Jayhawk. The T-1s are on loan from the USAF to the USN and are technically based out of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The T-1 is used as an intermediate instrument and low-level trainer for SWSOs, where they receive a total of eight flights. Students are required to learn the aircraft in a two-week ground school period before they go flight side, for only those eight flights. In contrast, T-6 ground school is six weeks. Training ends at either VT-10 or VT-4 with the "i-grad" ceremony and top graduate award.

Advanced

VT-86 is where all the training comes together to culminate in the SWSO receiving his silver wings. In the T-39, a USN twin-engine jet trainer, SWSOs learn advanced instrument flying, radar navigation (consisting of navigating using an A/G radar from early F-16s), and composite visual/radar navigation. Training takes place on both VR and IR routes that criss-cross the south east United States. After A/G training, track selection takes place. SWSOs select either F-15E Strike Eagles, the B-1B Lancer or the B-52H Stratofortress. For B-1B Lancer and B-52 selectees, selection turns into a soft-winging ceremony. For "Mudhen" selectees, training will continue for another three months. Over those three months, the SWSO Strike Eagle selectee learns the basics of A/A engagements and learning to "talk" radar. The final three months of some of the hardest training at Pensacola will leave the SWSO F-15E selectee with shiny silver wings.

IFF

SWSOs learn BFM (basic fighter maneuvering) in the USAF T-38 at Randolph AFB, Texas.

ee also

Combat Systems Officer (US Air Force)

References

* [http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=102 Factsheet F-15E Strike Eagle]
* [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/fa18/index.htm F/A-18 C/D Fact Sheet]