During the ‘Garudas’ deployment, NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft were used to assess the situation in real time during each training mission

In order to gain experience and to develop tactics, VAQ-134 trained with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) Block 50 F-16CM/DMs of the 480th Fighter Squadron based at Germany’s Spangdahlem Air Base

Three Spangdahlem-based F-16CM Block 50 Wild Weasels head out for their daily training session with the deployed EA-18G Growlers and F-35A Lightning IIs

A detachment from the 92nd Air Refuelling Wing assigned to the Air Mobility Command’s 18th Air Force and based at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, was deployed to Spangdahlem

VAQ-134 was deployed to Spangdahlem Air Force Base at short notice and were supported by the 52nd Operational Support Squadron

The Garudas Growlers usually operate in pairs. While on station the aircraft were refuelled by the 92nd Air Refuelling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft

A segregated shelter area was reserved for the six deployed aircraft from VAQ-134

A detachment of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA-323 ‘Death Rattlers’ 12 F/A-18C Legacy Hornet aircraft deployed to Poland’s Lask Air Force Base and trained with their NATO partners, US Naval and Air Force assets

Though the MC-130 has scanning capabilities, it is not as maneuverable as the EA-18G Growler

Twelve F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 34th Fighter Squadron were deployed to Spangdahlem

During their deployment VAQ-134 conducted exercises and training with NATO partners, including with the F-35A Lightning IIs from the Royal Netherlands Air Force