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In 1960 the squadron began to include additional projects that were not associated with guided missiles. Projects such as the operational test and terrain clearance radar, Doppler navigation systems, and air-to-air distance measuring equipment were included in the squadron's tasks.
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as an initial step in the consolidation of the two squadrons. The first Hornet departed for China Lake before the end of 1993, with the remainder of the squadron's aircraft following in early 1994. On 30 September 1994, VX-4 was disestablished and its assets were reassigned to
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After Desert Storm, the tempo at VX-4 returned to a more normal pace. AMRAAM testing aboard F/A-18, which began in 1991 and continued throughout the year. Evaluation of the F-14D, that had begun in 1990, likewise continued. Other 1991 projects included testing the
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January 1990 marked the end of the F-4 Phantom after nearly three decades of service with VX-4 and a few months later the F-14D Super Tomcat arrived. Also the same year they supervised the first operational test of the F-14D and the
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set tests on the F-14D. ALR-67 (ECP-510) testing in the F/A-18 was one of the squadron's more significant projects in late 1991 and 1992. AMRAAM testing was finally completed in early 1994.
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There were two squadrons which used the designation VX-4. The first was established in 1946 as
Experimental and Development squadron Four at NAS Quonset Point equipped with
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to evaluate and develop
Airborne Early Warning equipment and procedures. In 1950 it relocated to NAS Atlantic City as Air Development Squadron four. The squadron moved to
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to conduct evaluations of air-launched guided missiles as assigned by the
Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. That squadron is the subject of this article.
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in August 1990 and the Gulf War in 1991, VX-4 was instrumental in the identification of deficiencies, testing and fielding of fixes to fighter weapons systems during
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By late 1993, Hornet testing was winding down at VX-4 and preparations were underway for the transfer of all F/A-18 projects and F/A-18C/D aircraft to
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radar warning receiver and contributed the system's incorporation in the F-14. VX-4 also began developing tactics for the employment of the
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Operational tests and evaluation of airborne fighter weapons systems included the AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder and the
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VX-4 flew aircraft that were currently in operational service with the US Navy, and began their life with the
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BOL chaff dispenser on the F-14, various
Sidewinder, Sparrow and Phoenix missile evaluations and
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came to the fleet, it appeared with VX-4 as well, plus newer variants of the F-14 Tomcat.
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in 1951 where it was disestablished later the year due to the lapse of assigned projects.
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The YF-4J Phantom II prototype from VX-4, painted with a USA bicentennial theme
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The second squadron to carry the VX-4 designation was established in 1952 at
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missiles as well as radar warning devices and self-protection jammers.
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A VX-4 F/A-18 Hornet loaded with ten AMRAAM and two sidewinders
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List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1994
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376:Military units and formations in California
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91:air test and evaluation squadron based at
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342:Naval Aviation News Aug 1947 pg 24
304:(Detachment Point Mugu) Vampires.
21:Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 4
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314:History of the United States Navy
160:. Later they transitioned to the
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206:A Tomcat arrived and when the
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171:. With the
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64:Nickname(s)
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365:Categories
330:References
297:China Lake
182:, Douglas
241:missile.
188:F3H Demon
97:tail code
308:See also
111:and the
87:, was a
282:Swedish
262:Red Sea
180:FJ Fury
119:History
34:Country
246:Kuwait
235:ALR-67
125:PB-1Ws
44:Branch
26:Active
302:VX-9
293:VX-5
204:F-14
169:F-10
99:was
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101:XF,
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