Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
(APKWS) guidance kit that provides
unguided 2.75in (70mm) rockets with
laser precision guidance was signed o
for the US Marine Corps by VX-9.
Now that the navy’s F/A-18Cs have
made their nal carrier air wing
deployments, ‘legacy’ Hornet work is
now mainly focused on the needs of the
marines. However, the navy has signed
o on Block III upgrades for the Super
Hornet and some major enhancements
are on the way for VX-9 to get its fangs
into, not least the type’s improved
cockpit displays and enhanced mission
computers and networking. There are
also aspirations to incorporate Block III
upgrades into the EA-18G Growler, so
there’s a lot of work ahead to ensure
that these all reach the eet with the
requisite capabilities.While the squadron regularly detaches
away for representative conditions,
the high desert is the ideal location for
most of its test work. ‘Flying conditions
are more favorable here in the desert,’
smiles Noronha. ‘In the eet, there are
a series of ying events that you need
to ful ll, and quali cations to stay
tactically pro cient, whereas here we are
not required to maintain training and
readiness for deployment.’
Hirzel adds, ‘The ying out here is the
best I have ever experienced, because
the weather is always clear. When I’m
not ying, I have a challenging and
rewarding ground job testing the navy’s
newest assets. You are given your own
multi-million-dollar project and told to
make it happen.’
Noronha echoed those sentiments.
‘’Fuego’ and I have been ying withAbove left:
This VX-9 F/A-18D
carries blue
practice bombs
as it prepares
to launch to
work with a joint
terminal attack
control (JTAC)
party.
Kedar Karmarkar
Below: Toting a
pair of live iron
bombs, a VX-9
F/A-18E works as
part of a close air
support exercise
supporting joint
terminal attack
controllers.
Jamie HunterUNIT REPORT // VX-9 ‘VAMPIRES’
80 October 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net