| 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron | |
|---|---|
 177th TFTS F-4D Phantoms, about 1988 | |
| Active | 1984–Present |
| Country |
 United States |
| Allegiance |
 Kansas |
| Branch |
 Air National Guard |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | ISR |
| Part of | Kansas Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas |
| Insignia | |
| 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron emblem |
 |
The 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (178 IWAS) is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Intelligence Wing stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. The 177th is a non-flying squadron which trains in cyber warfare.
Overview[]
The mission of the squadron is to attack American military networks, to discover vulnerabilities before a real enemy does.
The Information Warfare Aggressor role is similar to the "tiger teams" commercial firms hire (and the air force pioneered) to test the defenses of corporate networks. The two aggressor squadrons have increased the quality and quantity of attacks that can be launched against U.S. systems, to see how well the defenses hold up. Members of the squadron then analyze the results of their attack. Finally, the aggressor hackers tell the sysadmins and other concerned personnel of the target unit what they did wrong, and why.
History[]
On 1 February 1984, the 177th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron was established with the unit flying F-4D Phantom IIs as a formal training unit (FTU) and conducting its first student training class. Converted to F-16A/B in 1990 and F-16C/D in 1992. Inactivated on 1 August 1994 when the F-16s were withdrawn from McConnell, being replaced by B-1Bs.
Lineage[]
- Designated 177th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and allotted to Kansas ANG, on 1 February 1984
- Extended federal recognition on 1 February 1984
- Re-designated: 177th Fighter Squadron, 16 March 1992
- Inactivated on 1 August 1994
- Re-designated: 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron and activated, 1 April 2008
Assignments[]
- 184th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 February 1984
- 184th Fighter Group, 16 March 1992 – 1 August 1994
- 184th Regional Support Group, 1 April 2008 – Present
Stations[]
- McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, 1 February 1984 – 1 August 1994; 1 April 2008 – Present
Aircraft[]
- F-4D Phantom II, 1984-1990
- Block 1/5 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, 1990-1992
- Block 25 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 1992-1994
References[]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
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The original article can be found at 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron and the edit history here.