- VX-4
The VX-4 Evaluators was a
U.S. Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at NAS Point Mugu. Their tail code was "XF," and they flew the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet until their disestablishment.History
VX-4 (Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 4) was established in
1950 inNew England as Air Development Squadron 4, primarily for the development of airborne early warning system (AWACS ). The squadron moved toNAS Patuxent River in1951 where it was disestablished later the same year due to the lapse of assigned projects. VX-4 was reestablished in1952 at NAS Point Mugu to conduct evaluations of air-launched guided missiles as assigned by the Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. In1960 the squadron began to include additional projects that were not associated with guided missiles. Projects such as the operational test and terrain clearance radar, Doppler navigation systems, and air-to-air distance measuring equipment were included in the squadron's tasks.VX-4 flew aircraft that were currently in operational service with the US Navy, and began their life with the
Chance Vought F7U Cutlass . Later they transitioned to theMcDonnell Douglas F3D Skyknight , redesignated F-10. With theAIM-7 Sparrow missile being used, the North AmericanFJ Fury , DouglasA-4 Skyhawk and the McDonnell DouglasF3H Demon replaced the Cutlass and the Skynight. When theAIM-9 Sidewinder came about, theF-8 Crusader was introduced to VX-4, and in the early 1960’s theF-4 Phantom II made it’s debut with VX-4. In the early 1970’s theF-14 A Tomcat arrived and when theF/A-18 Hornet came to the fleet, it appeared with VX-4 as well, plus newer variants of the F-14 Tomcat.Operational tests and evaluation of airborne fighter weapons systems included the AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder and the
AIM-54 Phoenix missiles as well as radar warning devices and self-protection jammers.January
1990 marked the end of the F-4 Phantom after nearly 3 decades of service with VX-4 and a few months later the F-14D Super Tomcat arrived. Also the same year they supervised the first operational test of the F-14D and theT-45 Goshawk . Throughout the year VX-4 developed tactics for theALR-67 radar warning receiver and contributed the system’s incorporation in the F-14. VX-4 also began developing tactics for the employment of theAIM-120 AMRAAM missile.After Iraq's invasion of
Kuwait in August1990 and later the war in1991 , VX-4 was instrumental in the identification of deficiencies, testing and fielding of fixes to fighter weapons systems duringDesert Shield ,Desert Storm and subsequent operations inSouthwest Asia . After Desert Storm commenced in January 1991, VX-4 continued to funnel the latest information to the fleet via messages and briefings presented by VX-4 aircrews deployed aboard carriers in theRed Sea and northernArabian Sea .After Desert Storm, the tempo at VX-4 returned to a more normal pace. AMRAAM testing aboard F/A-18, which began in 1991 and continued throughout the year. Evaluation of the F-14D, that had begun in 1990, likewise continued. Other 1991 projects included testing the Swedish
BOL chaff dispenser on the F-14, various Sidewinder, Sparrow and Phoenix missile evaluations andInfra-red search and track set tests on the F-14D. ALR-67 (ECP-510) testing in the F/A-18 was one of the squadron's more significant projects in late 1991 and 1992. AMRAAM testing was finally completed in early1994 .By late
1993 , Hornet testing was winding down at VX-4 and preparations were underway for the transfer of all F/A-18 projects and F/A-18C/D aircraft to VX-5 atChina Lake as an initial step in the consolidation of the two squadrons. The first Hornet departed for China Lake before the end of 1993, with the remainder of the squadron's aircraft following in early 1994. On 30 September 1994, VX-4 was disestablished and its assets were reassigned toVX-9 (Detachment Point Mugu) Vampires.External links
* [http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-squadron-vx4.htm VX-4 History]
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