The Wizards of VAQ-133 deployed to Naval Air Weapons Station Point Mugu, Calif., on July 20 to participate in a High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile Exercise with Carrier Air Wing 14 and VAQ-142.

Pt. Mugu is located about 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles and is composed of more than 4,500 acres. European explorer Juan Cabrillo originally discovered the area in 1542. The Chumash Indian tribe inhabited the area called “muwu,” which is how Point Mugu earned its present name.

In 1947, NAWS Pt. Mugu was officially funded by congress as a development and test site for aircraft weapons systems. It is presently home to four E-2C Hawkeye squadrons. as well as the Naval Air Warfare Center.

Our objectives were to provide aircrew and maintenance training in live-fire HARM missile employment. VAQ-133 and VAQ-142 launched three aircraft to conduct the exercise.

The primary aircraft shooting HARM consisted of “Raygun 11,” piloted by Lt. Tre Costello, Lt.j.g. Johnathon Elrod, Lt.j.g. Charles Fatora and Lt. Noe Dorantes; “Raygun 12” was piloted by Lt. Carlone-Hanson, Lt. Cmdr. David Norley, Lt. Mike Beard and Lt.j.g. Ron Young.

The secondary HARM aircraft, “Raygun 13,” was piloted by Lt. Jeffrey Strawn, Lt. Cmdr. Jason Temple, Lt. Jason Crowley and Lt.j.g. Brandon Edge. It provided range safety for the HARM shoot. VAQ-133 and VAQ-142 successfully launched two AGM-88 HARM missiles that impacted a target located on the test range. The training from this live-fire exercise has provided valuable experience to VAQ-133 and VAQ-142 aircrew and their respective maintenance departments, significantly increasing operational readiness.