Official VAQ-131 Lancers Throwback Shoulder Patch

Official VAQ-131 Lancers Throwback Shoulder Patch — Electronic Attack Squadron 131 Embroidered Patch

The Lancers charge into the electromagnetic spectrum—VAQ-131, one of the Navy's premier electronic attack squadrons, carrying a legacy of jamming enemy radars and communications from Vietnam to the modern era.

Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131), the "Lancers," is a United States Navy electronic warfare squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, operating the Boeing EA-18G Growler—the world's most advanced airborne electronic attack platform. Assigned to Electronic Attack Wing Pacific, the Lancers conduct the critical Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) missions that enable strike packages to penetrate hostile airspace by jamming, degrading, and destroying enemy radar and communications systems.

VAQ-131 was established on 1 June 1983 at NAS Whidbey Island, initially operating the EA-6B Prowler—the four-seat electronic warfare aircraft that served as the Navy and Marine Corps' primary airborne jammer for over four decades. The Lancers deployed extensively throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, providing electronic attack support during Operations Desert Storm, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. The squadron transitioned to the EA-18G Growler, a two-seat electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet that combines the jamming mission with the ability to carry air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.

This throwback shoulder patch pays tribute to the Lancers' heritage design, evoking an earlier era of the squadron's history when electronic warfare was conducted with different equipment but the same warrior spirit. The Lancer identity—referencing the mounted cavalry soldiers who charged into battle with lance and pennant—captures the squadron's aggressive approach to the electronic warfare mission: riding into the most dangerous electromagnetic environments on earth to clear the way for friendly forces. VAQ-131's motto, "Pilum Spartan," reflects this warrior heritage.

Perfect For: VAQ-131 Lancers members and veterans, EA-18G Growler community members, EA-6B Prowler alumni, Electronic Attack Wing Pacific personnel, NAS Whidbey Island aviators, and electronic warfare aviation enthusiasts.

The Lancers of VAQ-131—charging into the electromagnetic battlespace, jamming the enemy's eyes and ears to clear the way for the strike force.