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No. 24 EW Squadron was formed in 1962 at PAF Base Peshawar.
At that time, it had RB-57F aircraft on its inventory. The
squadron was number plated in 1967 after the withdrawal of
RB-57 by the USAF. The squadron was revived in 1987,
following the induction of two Falcon DA-20 aircraft fitted
with modern EW suite. The primary role of the squadron is to
provide dedicated ESM and ECM (EW) support to the PAF during
both peace and war. The squadron also conducts training of
electronics and air defence officers, on the EW concepts,
equipment and operational tactics. Most of the maintenance
is done at the squadron level, which includes first and
second line maintenance, and servicing the EW suite along
with major and minor repairs. The data collected through the
EW missions is analyzed by electronic warfare officers to
evaluate enemy tactics and establish the enemy's electronic
order of battle.
The squadron participated in various PAF exercises in both
ECM and early warning roles. The first major exercise in
which the squadron took part was Zarb-e-Momin in 1989,
during which twenty-one missions were flown. During
exercises High Mark-89, 93, and 95, the squadron flew
seventeen, fourteen, and sixty-five missions repectively.
Communications and radar jamming was carried out
successfully and spoofing was very effective. Also, friendly
forces were provided with valuable and timely warning of
intruding aircraft. In 1997, during exercise Saffron Bandit,
thirty-five missions were flown. In this exercise, the
squadron provided ECM training to the pilots and contollers,
and almost the entire air force was exposed to the
operations under degraded environments. Moreover, lectures
covering the capabilities of the DA-20 were also delivered
to the participating squadrons.
The squadron participated in almost all air defence
exercises conducted within the PAF during the last ten
years, besides taking part in various joint exercises with
the Army and the Navy. In the joint exercises, practice to
operate in EW environment was given to the Army and the
Navy, and the susceptibility of their equipment to jamming
was analyzed. Some of the important exercises included Naval
ECM Exercise in 1991, Exercise Sky Guard in 1994, Jiddat in
1995, Sea Lion in 1996, and Sea Hawk and jamming of Army
Fire Control Radar in 1997. In 1998, jamming was carried out
against Sky Guard Radar and LAADS of the Army Air Defence
System.
The squadron also carried out ESM during Exercise Inspired
Alter-94 and 95, and Sea Spark-95, to find out the
capabilities of the radar and the tactics used by
participating aircraft. The squadron flies extensively to
ensure complete coverage on all the enemy exercises. The
data collected during these exercises is analyzed to
determine the enemy's operating tactics and deployment of
assets. Besides, the assets of this squadron form an
integral part of trans-frontier photo-recce missions that
are carried out from time to time. |